TN: Jayalalithaa ups ante against Centre

CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday blew the bugle for waging a war against the Congress-led UPA government and called upon the Left parties to join hands with her in this regard. She charged that on one hand the Centre had been usurping all revenue resources of the States, and on the other, failed to sanction sufficient funds for implementing welfare schemes despite repeated requests.Jayalalithaa expressed displeasure with the Centre on many occasions during the discussion on the revised budget for 2011-12 and when CPM floor leader A Soundararajan said the State could have allocated more funds for certain schemes, she turned furious and blasted the Centre for ignoring her requests for special financial assistance. “There are umpteen number of requirements and the basic need for fulfilling them is funds. But the Centre has been usurping all resources of revenue as well as powers from the States and the only one option left with the States is the Value Added Tax (Commercial Tax). We are managing all our expenses only with it,” she said.She went on to say: “We wish to implement manifold welfare schemes for the State than what you (Opposition) demand. But the financial constraint is holding our hands from doing it. We will break all these barriers and deliver goods to the people. Only with this vow, we are taking up welfare projects one after the other for implementation. I wish to say this: Whatever be the hurdles posed by the Centre, we will thwart them and do good to the people. The Central government is acting with the only intention of not letting Tamil Nadu thrive. But despite that, the State government, within the democratic set up, will do as much good as possible for the people,” she said amid applause from the treasury Benches.When CPI leader M Arumugam requested Jayalalithaa to order an increase in the supply of kerosene to the Valparai constituency, she said since June, the Centre had been reducing the quantum of kerosene to Tamil Nadu despite requests to increase it. Besides, the States had no power to buy kerosene. The Centre had cut the quantum of DAP fertilisers to Tamil Nadu. Even after representing it to the Prime Minister, the situation has not improved, she said.The CPI, CPM, MMK, AIFB, RPI, AISMK and Tamil Nadu Kongu Ilaignar Peravai expressed solidarity with the CM and her efforts for the State’s welfare.