In a press interaction in Chennai, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responded to remarks made by Udhayanidhi Stalin, advising him to speak in a “responsible manner befitting the post he holds.” The spat originated when a reporter highlighted some comments made by Stalin, who had earlier stated, “Are we asking for their father’s money? We’re asking to give back our money.”
Sitharaman, in her response, accused Udhayanidhi of consistently using derogatory language and criticised the language he employed in his statements. She drew parallels with a previous controversy regarding the eradication of Sanatana Dharma and noted the pattern in Udhayanidhi’s language. Sitharaman stated, “Those asking, ‘Is it your dad’s money?’ can we similarly say he is enjoying power because of his dad’s assets? Can we ask like that? He has been elected by the people, and we give him the due respect for that. These talks like ‘unga appan, unga aatha’ (derogatory way of saying your father, your mother), these kinds of talks are not good in politics.”
The Finance Minister further emphasised the need for measured language in politics, highlighting Udhayanidhi’s familial legacy, including his grandfather’s stature as a Tamil scholar. She urged him to be mindful of the words he chooses, given the position he holds in politics.
“This is the second instance. I have no personal vengeance against. He should speak in a manner that is befitting the post he holds,” Sitharaman added.
The exchange comes against the backdrop of recent floods in Tamil Nadu, where questions have been raised about the management of funds allocated for relief and recovery efforts. The war of words between Sitharaman and Udhayanidhi reflects the political tensions surrounding the handling of the flood situation.
It is noteworthy that the verbal sparring between the Union Finance Minister and the Tamil Nadu Minister underscores the broader political discourse, with both leaders defending their positions and engaging in a rhetorical battle that extends beyond the immediate concerns of flood management and fund allocation.
திரு உதயநிதி ஸ்டாலின் அமைச்சராக இருக்கும்போது பொறுப்புடன் பேச வேண்டும். "அப்பன் வீட்டு பணமா" போன்ற பேச்சுகளை அவர் தவிர்க்கவேண்டும் – மாண்புமிகு மத்திய நிதி அமைச்சர் திருமதி @nsitharaman அவர்கள். pic.twitter.com/seVM56YtQM
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) December 22, 2023
Joining issue with her on the advice of how to speak in public, Udhaya Nidhi Stalin took X handle in
Tamil said “ We have been taught how to speak by Periyar ( EV Ramaswamy Naicker, founder
Dravidiar kazhagam) Anna (C N Annadurai, founder DMK), Kalaignar (M Karuananidhi-grandfather)
and Kazhagam Thalaivar (Stalin, his father). We choose to speak to some like Anna, to others like
Kalaignar and to some like Thalaivar. But for a certain people, we have no choice but to speak like
Periyar ( Nirmala is a Brahmin , which he hints).
யாரிடம் எப்படி பேச வேண்டும் என்று தந்தை பெரியார் – பேரறிஞர் அண்ணா – முத்தமிழறிஞர் கலைஞர் – கழகத் தலைவர் மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் அவர்கள் எங்களுக்கு நன்றாகவே சொல்லிக் கொடுத்துள்ளார்கள்.
சிலரிடம் அண்ணாவைப் போல – சிலரிடம் கலைஞரைப் போல – சிலரிடம் கழகத்தலைவரைப் போல பேசுகிறோம்.…
— Udhay – தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@Udhaystalin) December 22, 2023
Udhaya Nidhi Stalin criticized Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her recent remarks about the central government not being an ATM for states. Sitharaman’s comments came during a press briefing in New Delhi, where she addressed the central government’s response to the recent floods in Tamil Nadu.
According to Sitharaman, the Centre had already disbursed Rs 900 crore in two installments for Tamil Nadu in the current fiscal year. She pointed out that the DMK-led government should have taken adequate precautions to tackle the monsoons and expressed disappointment that no lessons seemed to have been learned from the 2015 floods. The Finance Minister specifically mentioned that if the Rs. 4,000 crore allocated for Chennai’s development had been properly spent, the impact of the floods could have been mitigated.
Sitharaman countered the state’s accusations, highlighting that the regional meteorological centre in Chennai, equipped with advanced capabilities, had accurately predicted heavy rainfall in specific districts. She criticised Chief Minister Stalin for being in New Delhi during the flooding and visiting the affected areas three days later. Despite the criticism, she acknowledged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promptly granted an audience to CM Stalin and assured support.
Responding to Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu’s defense of Udhaya Nidhi Stalin’s language, Sitharaman asserted that the Centre would not declare the floods a national disaster as demanded by CM Stalin. She explained that such declarations were not made by the Centre but could be done by the state if they deemed it necessary.
Sitharaman provided details of the immediate actions taken by the Centre upon receiving news of the floods on December 18. She stated that Home Minister Amit Shah issued necessary orders, and nine helicopters were deployed for rescue operations. By December 21, over 42,290 people were rescued by various agencies, including NDRF, the navy, air force, coast guard, state police, and others.
There is no practice of announcing any disaster, in any state, at any time, by any government (of India) as National Disaster. Since there is a lot of interest in TN, even Tsunami of December 2004 (UPA with partner DMK) was not declared as Natl. Disaster. 1/3
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) December 22, 2023
However, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu strongly rebuked Sitharaman, accusing her of insulting the people of Tamil Nadu by rejecting the state’s key demands. Thennarasu stated that the state had requested Rs. 7,033 crore as interim relief and Rs. 12,659 crore as permanent relief for Chennai, with an additional Rs. 2,000 crore for emergency relief in the four southern districts. The total sought from the Centre amounted to Rs. 21,692 crore. Thennarasu emphasised that Sitharaman had turned down their demands to declare the floods a calamity of severe nature, which would have enabled the use of resources from the National Disaster Management Fund.
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister, Thangam Thennarasu, responded strongly to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s statements, accusing her of insulting the people of Tamil Nadu rather than the DMK government. Thennarasu asserted that Sitharaman failed to acknowledge the hardships faced by the people during the floods. He clarified that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who granted a late-night appointment to Chief Minister Stalin, and Sitharaman’s attempt to project a negative image of the state government with false charges was unwarranted. Thennarasu urged Sitharaman to declare the floods a calamity of severe nature and release the requested funds if she truly believed in the principle of “one nation, one country.”
Meanwhile, at the grassroots level, public anger towards the government’s handling of the flood situation was evident across the state. The absence of ministers and party functionaries in affected areas contributed to the growing dissatisfaction. If elections were held today, it is speculated that the DMK would face significant losses due to perceived poor handling of the crisis. On the contrary, people expressed gratitude towards the BJP and Sangh Parivar for their immediate response and efficient rescue and relief measures without waiting for formal requests.
As political observers keenly watch the developments, the exchange serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between political discourse and the responsibilities that come with public office.
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