Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said all efforts are being made to fulfil the cultural aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu but AIADMK MPs, led by lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai who met the President over the Jallikattu issue, said the PM had no time to meet them though they have been seeking appointment for the last three days to discuss other issues of the State.
They thanked Modi for his support to Jallikattu but warned the Centre that if it continues to “ignore” the regional aspirations and interests of people of Tamil Nadu then it will have dangerous implications.
After heading an AIADMK MPs delegation to President Pranab Mukherjee to submit a memorandum seeking his intervention in the Jallikattu matter, Thambidurai thanked Modi for helping the Tamil Nadu Government come out with an ordinance on the Jallikattu issue but complained that the Centre was “ignoring” the State on a number of issues raised with him and his Government.
“One nation, one tax may be good for GST but the concept of one language, one culture is not good for federalism. The Prime Minister talks of cooperative federalism but what is cooperative federalism if you are not able to address our issues. We (Tamil Nadu Government) have been
raising various issues like the Cauvery, Mullaiperiyar, Kachatheevu, Tamil fishermen, Sri lankan Tamils cause and Jallikattu which symbolises Tamil culture. Tamil culture is also Indian culture. It is a warning to the Central Government that please don’t step aside the regional aspirations and interests,” he told reporters here.
Recently, for the last one year, the AIADMK MPs have been seeking appointments with the Prime Minister to take up State issues, Thambidurai said. “We waited for last three days for meeting the Prime Minister but we could not get his appointment. We hope that anytime he may call us,” he said.
Thambidurai said if elected MPs, a Deputy Speaker, are not able to meet the Prime Minister, then it leaves a bad feeling. “The Prime Minister should help us when we come,” he said.
He said since the issue of animals is in the concurrent list of the Constitution, the Tamil Nadu government has been waiting for the Centre to issue an ordinance. “The earlier UPA Government in which DMK was a constituent did not do anything. Even the BJP government did not help us. That is why this ordinance now,” he said.
He said talk of federalism is alright but the Centre should also protect various languages and cultures in the country.
If the Centre fails, then what will happenIJ Tamil Nadu is showing that lakhs and lakhs of people are on the streets for protection of Tamil language and culture. The Centre should understand this and resolve issues.