New Delhi: In a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday sought the Centre’s approval for the state government to provide humanitarian aid to Sri Lankan Tamils in the light of an economic crisis in that country.
During the meeting, Stalin, who is also the DMK supremo, gave a detailed memorandum to Modi on various issues, including those related to the economic crisis in the island nation.
Referring to the adversities being faced by the Lankan Tamils, Stalin said many of them embarked on a ‘perilous journey’ to Tamil Nadu due to unaffordable prices of essential commodities in the crisis-hit nation and they are lodged in a transit camp in the southern state.
The memorandum also noted that more people may be arriving in the state due to worsening economic condition in Sri Lanka.
Tamil Nadu CM @mkstalin called on PM arenarendramodi. @CMOTamilnadu pic.twitter.com/PK7Q64bHzY
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 31, 2022
At this juncture, the memorandum added, the Tamil Nadu government is willing to provide essential commodities and life-saving medicines to Sri Lankan Tamils, living in northern and eastern part of that country, as well as those working in plantation sector who are reeling under severe food crisis as a life saving measure, and also help them, especially vulnerable group of women and children.
“It is requested to accord necessary permission to undertake the benevolent activity,” the memorandum read as quoted by news agency PTI.
Earlier in the day, Stalin also met Congress president Sonia Gandhi, whose party is a partner in the DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu, in Parliament. Stalin greeted her with a shawl.
Welcoming Stalin to Delhi, Gandhi went to meet him in the DMK office in Parliament and said she came to say ‘Vanakkam’ to him and will meet him again during his party office inauguration in the national capital on April 2.
It is to be noted that Stalin is on a three-day visit to the national capital and is scheduled to meet several top leaders there.
DMK is inaugurating its party office in the national capital on April 2 and has invited leaders from various parties, including the BJP and the Congress, the party MP Kanimozhi said.