The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : BJP gives Centre a week to increase flood relief to State

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Friday, Dec 09, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

BJP gives Centre a week to increase flood relief to State

Special Correspondent

C.P.Radhakrishnan threatens to launch agitation

CHENNAI: The Bharatiya Janata Party will launch agitation if the Centre fails to enhance the flood relief assistance to Tamil Nadu in a week, party State president C.P.Radhakrishnan said on Thursday.

Given the widespread devastation suffered by the State, a minimum of Rs. 1,500 crore is required for relief works. But the Centre has sanctioned only Rs. 500 crore, he said.

Referring to Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss' remark that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa should have requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit the State, Mr. Radhakrishnan wondered why a dozen Union Ministers hailing from the State did not do it.

"They (United Progressive Alliance) are trying to politicise the issue," he said, recalling how the Prime Minister had visited Mumbai within days after the city experienced unprecedented rain in July.

The Union Ministers feared that getting more funds for the State would benefit the Government.

Lauding the Government for its "deft handling" of relief operations, Mr. Radhakrishnan said the toll was low because of the precautionary measures taken by the administration. The Government should convene an all-party meeting to decide the modalities of relief management. It could also consider sending a delegation of all the leaders to New Delhi to impress upon the Prime Minister the need for higher allocation.

He demanded that farmers be given a compensation of Rs. 5,000 an acre and that councillors of municipal corporations be included in relief administration committees.

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