Jaya says no to ‘political relief’

Sonia, who visited Kumbakonam on Sunday, announced an aid package of Rs 1.5 crore from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the families of the dead and injured children. Convening an urgent press conference this morning, Jayalalithaa said any aid package from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund could be announced only by the PM himself or an official of the PMO.

She gave the example of announcing aid from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, which she said, could only be done either by her or an officer of the government. ‘‘But for Sonia who holds no position in the Central Government to announce the relief on Prime Minister’s behalf was wrong and totally unprecedented and it amounts to devaluing the office of the Prime Minister,’’ she asserted.

As for people pointing accusing fingers at the teachers of the Sri Krishna School for fleeing to safety when the children burned, Jayalalithaa said now that an Inquiry Commission has been appointed, ‘‘we should leave it to the Commission to give its findings’’.

The Government has taken ‘‘stringent action’’ so far, arresting up to 17 persons, including five from the school management and 11 Education Department officials, for having issued licence to the school, flouting rules.