ATM to ‘father’s property’ to language lessons: Nirmala, Udhayanidhi spar over flood relief
At the heart of this controversy is a statement by Finance Minister Sitharaman, in which she implied that the central government is not an ATM, suggesting reluctance to accede to Tamil Nadu's demands for more funds especially in the wake of massive floods.
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Sitharaman's comment did not sit well with the Tamil Nadu government, particularly with Udhayanidhi, son of Chief Minister M K Stalin.Escalating their war of words over the allocation of central relief funds for flood-hit Tamil Nadu, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and TN Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin are caught in a no-holds-barred public spat, invoking, among other things, “father’s property” and “language lessons”.
At the heart of the row is Sitharaman’s recent statement, in which she said the Central government is not an ATM, referring to TN’s demands for more funds in the wake of the recent floods triggered by heavy rainfall on December 18-19.
Her comment did not sit well with the state government. Udhayanidhi, son of Chief Minister M K Stalin, responded by saying that they were not asking for “their father’s property”, but a “deserving share of people’s taxes paid”.
Hitting back, Sitharaman said on Friday: “That’s always been their language… That’s just how they speak. Can we say that those who talk like this are in their positions today because of their father’s property?”
Her statement, which took a jab at the DMK’s dynastic politics, did not end there. “Elected officials deserve the respect they are due… He is the grandson of a man (M Karunanidhi) who was known for his literary skills. One should have control over the words that come out of his mouth when he holds an important position. I have no grudge against him, but he should realise that there is no room in politics to talk about ‘father’s property’ etc,” she said.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Friday, Sitharaman also criticised Stalin, saying that even as parts of TN were flooded, the CM was in the Capital (on December 19) “meeting INDIA bloc leaders rather than overseeing rescue operations”.
Her reply invited further comments from Udhayanidhi, who said it was necessary to speak like Periyar with some people. “Periyar, Anna (former CM and DMK founder C N Annadurai), Karunanidhi, and our party leader (Stalin) have taught us well how to speak with whom. We speak to some like Annadurai, to others like Karunanidhi, and to some like our party leader. However, with certain individuals, it is necessary to speak in the manner of Periyar,” he said.
“When asked about her comment comparing the state’s request for flood relief funds to an ATM, I replied that ‘we were not asking for their father’s property, we are asking for the tax money contributed by the people of Tamil Nadu’,” he said.
He said some people complained that his reply “lacked a bit of respect”. “The next day, I clarified again, with ‘great respect’ as shown by the Union Finance Minister in her own statement, that we did not ask for the assets of the Honourable Union Minister’s father. Despite that, she has taught a lesson about my ‘language’ today. I reiterate… we are not asking for the property of the respectable father of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. We are only asking for the disaster relief funds, from the tax money paid by the people of Tamil Nadu,” Udhayanidhi said in similar statements on Friday and Saturday.
He also asked Sitharaman to refrain from speaking as if the annual state disaster relief funds were provided as a “favour” from the Centre’s national disaster relief fund. “We are always ready to show ‘respect’, as much as needed — just show a little concern for the people of Tamil Nadu and provide the funds, Union Finance Minister,” he said.
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