Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly’s session in 2020 began on a stormy note on Monday with the DMK, the principal Opposition party and its allies staging a walk out in protest against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act passed by both Houses of Parliament.
The opening sequences of the session had all the ingredients of a drama as the proceedings which commenced in a sober mood turned volatile as Governor Bawarilal Purohit started his customary address to the members of the House. MK Stalin, leader of the Opposition who had given notice for a private resolution condemning the CAA was on his feet
shouting slogans and demanding a thorough discussion in the House about the “discriminatory Act”. An unperturbed Purohit asked Stalin and his colleagues to be calm and listen to the speech. “You are a best orator. Use your skills for debate. Let this House be used for debate,” said the Governor who reverted to his prepared speech.
Stalin along with the constituents of the DMK — led front shouted slogans and walked out of the House.
Interestingly, TTV Dhinakaran, the lone member of the AMMK and Tamimum Ansari , an ally of the ruling AIADMK too joined the DMK in the walk out which also gave indication of a future possible alliance between the DMK and the AMMK.
The Governor steered clear of any controversies throughout his speech and was silent about the CAA. The close he came to referring the CAA was about the move by the AIADMK Government to help Sri Lankan Tamils who have taken refuge in the State . “The Government of Tamil Nadu will urge the Government of India to provide dual citizenship to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu. Government of Tamil Nadu will ensure that the interests of all citizens regardless of religion or creed are protected,” said the Governor.
While patting the Edappadi Palaniswami Government for its efforts in making the State a developed one and the lead State sought after by investors, the Governor declared that Tamil Nadu has become the numero uno State in India as envisaged by former Chief Minister late J Jayalalithaa. Purohit paid glowing tributes to Amma at least half a dozen times in his hour long speech and this drew thumping of desks by the AIADMK legislators. The Governor was critical of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations that led Tamil Nadu, a best performing State in the county losing heavily despite its commendable achievements. “There has been a diminution in the overall flow of Central funds to Tamil Nadu. Contrary to the impression that
the Fourteenth Finance Commission’s recommendations increased the gross flow of resources from the Centre to the States, in reality there has been a reduction in the gross transfers from the Centre to States. Moreover, Tamil Nadu has faced a more severe adverse impact due to the horizontal distribution formula of the Fourteenth Finance Commission,” said Purohit.
The Governor also said that Tamil Nadu lost Rs 4073 crore because of the discrepancies in allocating the share of GST to the State and he blamed the 14th Finance Commission for the same. The Mekedatu Dam to be built by Karnataka across Cauvery River and the reservoir to be built by Karnataka along the Markandeya River too came for sharp attacks in the Goernor’s speech.
The Inter-State River Water Linkage too got a mention in the speech as the Governor pointed out that only inter basin transfer of river water could resolve the water needs of Tamil Nadu, which is a water deficit State.