nEven as MK Stalin, the DMK president, continued his slanging, Edappadi K Palaniswami, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu reached London on Thursday morning as part of his fortnight long foreign tour to the UK, the USA and the UAE to woo investments from Tamil diaspora settled in these countries for the industrial development of the State.
J News, the news channel owned by the AIADMK aired visuals of the chief minister clad in suit and accompanied by Health Minister Vijay Bhaskar visiting head quarters of London Ambulance Services to get himself familiarised with the functioning of life saving missions undertaken by the agency. The delegation led by the chief minister signed MoUs with the National Health Mission of Britain for cooperation and collaboration in health related issues, the channel said quoting a member of the Chief Minister’s entourage.
The CM is expected to visit the advanced dairy units in UK and USA as part of his initiative to set up a world class dairy unit in Salem. The verbal duel between the chief minister and leader of the opposition Stalin peaked as the former boarded the aircraft from Chennai airport late on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Stalin had questioned purpose behind the foreign tour of the CM within seven months of holding the Global Investors Meet.
“The Government had claimed that the GIM had succeeded in attracting more than Rs 3 lakh crore worth of investments to the State. If that is true, why the chief minister is leaving on a fortnight long tour,” said Stalin while commenting about the first official visit in 20 years by a Tamil Nadu CM to Europe and US.
He claimed that his father Karunanidhi (former chief minister) was instrumental in bringing in investments and industries to the State without going anywhere in search of capital and entrepreneurs. “All major industries which you see in Tamil Nadu were set up by Karunanidhi and that too by staying in Chennai,” said Stalin.
But Palaniswamy retorted by telling that he was an ordinary farmer and has no personal interests or motives behind the tour. “ I am going abroad for the economic development of Tamil Nadu and to create jobs to the educated youth of the State. Investors and entrepreneurs who had come for the GIM held in January had asked me to undertake a trip like this for interacting with industrialists based in UK and USA and hence this tour. Ill be meeting perons of Tamil origin to seek their help in the economic development of the State,” the CM said.