Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah inaugurated and laid foundation stones for various infrastructure projects worth about Rs. 70,000 crore in Tamil Nadu’s capital, Chennai
Tamil Nadu and Tamil culture one of the oldest cultures in India and has always brought glory to India in the world - Shri Amit Shah
Union Home Minister says whether it is culture, elemental knowledge, science, arts, crafts and the Freedom Movement, Tamil Nadu's contribution cannot be forgotten, I salute this great land
Narendra Modi government stands firmly with the Tamil Nadu Government and is fully committed to the development of the state
Schemes and funds given to Tamil Nadu should not be considered as help, this is the right of Tamil Nadu, rights which were not given till now have been extended to Tamil Nadu by Narendra Modi
Modi government has approved investment of Rs 2.25 lakh crore for development of port and road projects in the state under SagarMala as well as Defence Corridor for Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu’s handling of COVID has been the best, it has the highest recovery rate of 97 percent in the country
No other state government could do as much as the Tamil Nadu government during the COVID pandemic, took care of pregnant mothers and the new born
Tamil Nadu plans to provide drinking water to all its 1.20 crore families by 2024, despite COVID water has been provided to 9 lakh villagers in the state
So far Rs. 95,000 crore have been transferred to bank accounts of 10 crore farmers across the country, about Rs. 4,404 crore to 45 lakh farmers of Tamil Nadu were directly transferred into their bank accounts
Tamil Nadu is using funds properly for the Blue Revolution, therefore I am confident that it can become the top state in the country even in the Blue Revolution
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the nation’s borders have been secured, now no one can threaten Tamil Nadu’s fishermen
The Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah inaugurated and laid foundation stones for various infrastructure projects worth about Rs. 70,000 crore in Tamil Nadu’s capital, Chennai today. Shri Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for the second phase of the Chennai Metro Rail Project worth Rs. 61,843 crore. He also dedicated the newly constructed reservoir at Theravaikandigai in Thiruvallur district. Shri Amit Shah paid tributes to former Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Bharat Ratna M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa. On this occasion, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri Edappadi K. Palaniswamy, Deputy Chief Minister, Shri O. Panneerselvam, Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly Shri R. Dhanapal, several other ministers and senior officials of the Tamil Nadu government were also present.
In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that Tamil Nadu and Tamil culture is one of the oldest cultures in India, and has always brought glory to India in the world. The Union Home Minister said whether it is culture, elemental knowledge, science, arts, crafts and the Freedom Movement, Tamil Nadu’s contribution cannot be forgotten, I salute this great land. He said that under the leadership of the great MGR and Jayalalitha development had taken place in the state, and expressed confidence that under the leadership of the incumbent Chief Minister Shri Palaniswami, the state could become the best state in the country by carrying out similar developmental work.
The Union Home Minister said that the Narendra Modi government at the Center stands firmly with the Tamil Nadu government and is fully committed to the development of the state. Today, the work to give new impetus to the development of Tamil Nadu has been started through the projects which were launched. We say with humility that schemes and funds given to Tamil Nadu should not be considered as help, this is the right of Tamil Nadu, rights which were not given till now have been extended to Tamil Nadu by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When the Manmohan Singh government presented its budget in 2013-14, they made a provision of Rs 16,155 crore for Tamil Nadu whereas in the budget recently presented by the Modi government, Rs 32,850 crore was given to the state and allocation for various schemes was additional to this.
Shri Amit Shah said that the Modi Government has approved investment of Rs. 2.25 lakh crore for the development of port and road projects in the state under SagarMala along with providing the Defence Corridor for Tamil Nadu. Also, Rs 13,700 crore has been provided for the East Coast Road. The foundation stone of AIIMS, Madurai with an investment of Rs 1,264 crore has been laid. Work on the East Coast Road has started at a cost of Rs 13,795 crore. A Memorial in the name of the great former President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam, was inaugurated by Shri Narendra Modi in Tamil Nadu. The Tejas Express was launched in some states, including in Tamil Nadu. The Tejas Express, which is the greatest example of Make in India is running on the Chennai-Madurai route. The government led by Prime Minister Modi has renamed Chennai Central Railway station after the great Dr. MGR.
Referring to the fight against COVID, Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the country has successfully faced this crisis. He said that the main reason for this is, that while governments around the world are fighting against COVID, here the Central government, state governments and 130 crore people of India are fighting this pandemic under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Congratulating the Tamil Nadu government and the state Chief Minister, Shri Palaniswami and the Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Shah said that Tamil Nadu is one of the few states whose handling of COVID has been the best. If the highest recovery rate of 97 percent is seen anywhere in the country, then it is only in the state of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu has followed the guidelines issued by the Government of India on COVID to the letter. During the period of the COVID pandemic across the country, no other state government has done as much as the Tamil Nadu government. The state government has also taken care of pregnant mothers and the new born.
The Union Home Minister said 15 percent of Tamil Nadu's 1.42 crore rural households had drinking water connections, now Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come up with a new scheme. Under this, a water connection is to be provided to every household by 2024. I want to congratulate the Government of Tamil Nadu that they have plans to provide drinking water to all its 1.20 crore families by 2024, and despite COVID water has been provided to 9 lakh villagers in the state.
Shri Amit Shah said that the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started transferring Rs. 6,000 annually to farmers' accounts. So far, Rs. 95,000 crore have been transferred to the bank accounts of 10 crore farmers across the country. The previous government had waived off loans of only 60,000 crore in 10 years, while the Narendra Modi government has transferred Rs. 95,000 crore directly into the bank account of farmers in three years. About Rs. 4,404 crore has been directly transferred to 45 lakh farmers of Tamil Nadu into their bank accounts. Rs. 30,000 crore has also been given separately to farmers through rural government banks and RRBs. Rs. 90,000 crore has been provided separately by NABARD for agriculture infrastructure.
Referring to the Blue Revolution, Shri Amit Shah said there is a lot of potential in Tamil Nadu. The Government of India has started a separate fisheries department. For this, a Blue Revolution Fund has been established at a cost of Rs. 20,000 crore. Tamil Nadu ranks fourth in fish production in the country. Exports of around Rs. 4,341 crore are also taking place and 88,000 MT of fish is produced. If Tamil Nadu uses the Blue Revolution Fund properly, I am confident that it can become the number one state in the country even in the Blue Revolution.
The Union Home Minister said after Shri Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister, healthy competition has started in the country in the last six years. Now there is a competition among all states for good governance. I am happy to say that Tamil Nadu has been number one this year in good governance. In the field of water conservation and water distribution, Tamil Nadu has also got the first place among the best states under the National Water Awards this year.
Shri Amit Shah said that in order to provide better prices to farmers across the country, the Modi government has brought in many agricultural reforms. I want to congratulate the Government of Tamil Nadu for the fact that the state has steadfastly supported these agricultural reforms. It is a great achievement for the farmers of Tamil Nadu that in the coming years, the farmers of the state will benefit, as well as the country. Shri Narendra Modi has introduced many schemes for 60 crore poor families deprived of these in the last 60 years. First, Jan Dhan in the house of every poor which allowed them to access their bank account, which has led to the end of the role of middlemen in the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme. Then, LPG cylinders were sent to every poor woman’s house and this made gas cylinders available to 13 crore poor women. After that, the Modi government has also constructed toilets in every poor person’s house. Apart from this, the government has promised to provide houses to every poor person, I am confident that by 2022, this work will also be done on the occasion of 75 years of the country's Independence. The Narendra Modi government has started work for reaching clean drinking water to the house of every poor person. Tamil Nadu has done a good job in this too. If there is support from the state to implement all these schemes, then I am confident that Tamil Nadu will be among the top states that will have implemented central schemes well.
The Union Home Minister said that work has been done to secure the country's borders under the leadership of Narendra Modi. Now no one can threaten the fishermen of Tamil Nadu. Knowing all their difficulties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is always ready to bring them back. Shri Narendra Modi did not forget Jaffna even when he visited Sri Lanka. Going to Tamil settlements, he met Tamil brothers and sisters and laid the foundation stone of a project for providing accommodation for them. More than 50,000 Tamil families shall get accommodation and work has also started on re-construction of damaged temples.
Shri Amit Shah said our security forces under the leadership of Narendra Modi are strong. The day before, four heavily armed terrorists sent from a neighbouring country wanted to bring about a huge incident, but they were stopped on the way and all four were killed in an encounter. Under Narendra Modi's leadership, the determination of our security forces has been strengthened. I congratulate the security forces today, who have secured the country by putting their lives at stake. I am confident that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country’s borders will be safe and the nation will move forward on the path of development. The name and prestige of the country across the world will rise.
NW/RK/PK/AD