Focus on issues facing the poor, downtrodden, Stalin advises BJP

CM was replying to Vanathi Srinivasan

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday called upon the BJP members in the Assembly to focus on issues facing the poor and the downtrodden and pointed to increasing prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas cylinders.

When BJP member Vanathi Srinivasan (Coimbatore South) raised the issue of officials of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department taking over the administration of Ayodhya Mandapam in West Mambalam, HR&CE Minister P.K. Sekar Babu replied, but the Chief Minister sought to intervene on the issue.

A case relating to the issue was in the court and a judgment was being expected and Mr. Sekar Babu had replied to her too. Therefore, the Chief Minister said, he did not intend to go into the issue.

“But, I have a request to the BJP member [Ms. Srinivasan]. Please focus more on issues facing the poor and the downtrodden. It is my request. The prices of petrol and diesel and cooking gas cylinders keep on increasing, affecting the common man. Please insist on the Union government to control the prices.,” Mr. Stalin said.

Recalling his meeting with the Union Ministers in Delhi, including the Prime Minister requesting them to release funds due to Tamil Nadu, Mr. Stalin insisted: “Please be supportive of such attempts and take steps to get the funds due to Tamil Nadu. Please understand the needs of the people and act accordingly.”

“If you attempt to politicise and attempt to strengthen your party, I would like to make it clear that it would not happen at all,” Mr. Stalin said. The three other BJP MLAs, BJP’s allies in the House were also present during the debate.