CHENNAI: In his first official visit to New Delhi this week, after taking over as chief minister of Tamil Nadu and his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, M K Stalin is likely to press for the abolition of NEET, an entrance exam for admission to medical colleges, and repealing the three farm laws.
Abolition of NEET and repealing the new farm laws were key elements of the DMK manifesto and the party’s campaign for the April 6 assembly election.
Sustained and substantial supply of vaccines and Covid drugs, clearing pending GST dues, and making the IVC facility at Chengalpet operational at the earliest are a few other demands that the CM would present to PM Modi when they meet on June 17 morning.
“Officials are in the process of preparing a memorandum containing around 20-25 demands to be presented to the PM by the CM.
Some of them are routine demands usually made by any new government in the state, with a few others that are political and part of the ruling party’s manifesto.
And NEET is a key element of their manifesto,” official sources told TOI.
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“We are giving a further push to activate the IVC facility, owned by Bharat Biotech, at Chengalpet at the earliest.
While the CM has already written to the PM on this, the state industries minister had personally visited Delhi and apprised the need for it during his meeting with Union ministers,” official sources added.
“Early in the fiscal, one is not sure how much a state can demand.
But somewhere, the state government has to start asking for funds,” a senior official said.
“Increasing the borrowing limit of the state to tide over the increased expenditure on account of Covid and lower revenues has been another pending demand.
A few other states too have raised this demand at the recent GST council meeting,” the official added.
Stalin will reach New Delhi on June 16 evening.
“As per the tentative plan, the CM is likely to return to Chennai on June 18.
He will utilize the opportunity to meet a few ministers, besides others, and also visit the DMK party office ‘Arivalayam’ in the capital,” a senior DMK leader said.
This week’s visit is Stalin’s first official trip to New Delhi in over a decade.
The last time he undertook an official visit to the capital was in February 2010 when he was the deputy chief minister and represented the state on behalf of his father (then CM M Karunanidhi) at the CMs’ meeting.
Meanwhile, the Thanjavur district Cauvery Farmers’ protection association has written to Stalin, urging him to impress upon the Centre to repeal the three farm laws.