The DMK had an important point to make to the Prime Minister in the all party meeting convened by the latter on Wednesday. TR Baalu, senior DMK leader and leader of the parliamentary party in Lok Sabha told the Prime Minister and the Home Minister that the Muslims in the country are hurt over the discrimination against them by a political party and the Centre.
“They are shocked over the statements made by some political parties that the corona virus attack was because of them. Everyday we hear charges that the corona virus broke out because of the congregation held at Delhi and the Tablighi Jamaat was responsible for it. We in the DMK are against this allegation and asked the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to initiate action against those who spread such news,” Balu told reporters after the three hour long video conferencing held on Wednesday.
The DMK leader also asked the Centre to give Rs 10,000 per artisan and self employed people who are affected by the lock down. “This could be given in two instalments of Rs 5,000 each,” said Baalu. He also demanded that health and civic workers who are the frontline warriors against corona should be paid three additional increments as a recognition of the services rendered by them.
Baalu said though the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu had asked for financial assistance of Rs 9,000 crore from the Centre, the State has been given just Rs 500 crore. “This is far from satisfactory,” said the DMK leader.
Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy announced an interim package of Rs 1000 to all 14.7 lakh workers (including self employed workers) who are registered with various sectors like micro, mini and small industries towards meeting emergency expenses in the backdrop of national lock down.
Senior Government officials in the secretariat said a decision regarding the extension of lock down in the State would be taken in the next two-three days. “The cabinet is likely to meet on Thursday and a decision about the course of action to be taken about continuation of lock down is likely to emerge,” said an official.
Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of neighbouring Kerala looked relaxed as he said only nine patients tested positive for corona virus on Wednesday. “We have 345 corona virus positive cases in the State as on Wednesday. Today nine persons tested positive for corona virus out of which four had attended the Delhi meeting,” he said.
The chief minister said he was concerned about the condition of expatriate Keralites who are left helpless in foreign countries. “We have opened help desks to give guidance to them and have asked the ambassadors of all countries to offer them all possible help,” he said.