Since the BJP assumed power in the centre, the opposition parties have consistently charged that the non-BJP government in the southern states is not provided the necessary funding or meeting demands.
Cyclone Michaung devastated four districts in Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, not too long ago. Soon after, Nellai, Tuticorin, and other districts in the south were also badly impacted in a matter of days.
Due to this, the Tamil Nadu Government requested the Union Government for flood relief and instead of the requested funds, the Union Government allocated only Rs.5884.49 crores (i.e. only 4.61 percent) to Tamil Nadu. However, instead of waiting for Union Government funds, due to the efforts of Chief Minister M.K.Stalin, relief materials and relief money were provided to the flood affected areas.
Following this event, the Union Government announced tax distribution to the states. It released Rs.2,976.10 crore to Tamil Nadu then. That is, from 2014 to 2022, Tamil Nadu's share in direct tax revenue of the Union Government is Rs.5.16 lakh crore. But we got only Rs.2.08 lakh crore as tax distribution.
Meanwhile, UP's contribution is Rs 2.24 lakh crore. But they were given Rs.9.04 lakh crore. While Uttar Pradesh and Bihar get 200% disaster fund, Tamil Nadu gets only 64%.
In this context, it has been reported that Prime Minister Modi secretly negotiated with the Niti Aayog to reduce the funds required by the states.
The Finance Commission had recommended that states which were receiving up to 32 per cent of funds should be increased to 42 per cent.
But Modi, who came to power as Prime Minister in 2014 after winning the BJP, did not agree to this. He said 33 percent is enough instead of 42 percent.
It has also been revealed that Modi had said that the allocation of funds to the states should be reduced while presenting the budget, but as the Finance Commission strongly objected to this, Modi had no choice but to withdraw from his decision.
The opposition parties did not say this. The current Niti Aayog Director General P.V.R. Subramaniam who has shared and exposed this information.
Leave all this aside. The people of Tamil Nadu have not fully recovered from the effects of the two calamities. The Union Ministers and the Union Committee have visited twice to see the effects of the calamities. They will surely tell the Prime Minister how big the damage is.
The Government of Tamil Nadu and the people of Tamil Nadu rightfully expect that Prime Minister Modi, who is coming to Tamil Nadu today, will announce additional funds for Tamil Nadu's calamities.
Will the Prime Minister shake hands with the people of Tamil Nadu and say goodbye in Tamil only? Let's wait and see!