By Arun Janardhanan
The Tamil Nadu Assembly’s move to pass a resolution Friday urging the Centre to allow the state Government to send humanitarian aid to the people of Sri Lanka came in the wake of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central Government not responding to its similar requests made earlier. The resolution was brought by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Government in the midst of its escalating tussle with Governor R.N. Navi over various issues.
After moving the resolution, which was passed unanimously by the House with the support of all parties including the BJP, Chief Minister (CM) and DMK President M.K. Stalin again wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to issue necessary directions to the Ministry of External Affairs to process and facilitate the early movement of essential relief items, such as food and medicines, that the Tamil Nadu Government has proposed to send to the neighbouring country, which has been reeling under an unprecedented economic crisis.
The state Government’s initial plan is to send 40,000 tonnes of rice worth INR 800 million, 137 types of life-saving medicines valued at INR 280 million, and 500 tonnes of milk powder worth INR 150 million to Sri Lanka.