Opposition to urge Centre, State to share and pay Rs 12,500 to lockdown-hit

Chennai

A meeting of all opposition parties led by DMK president M K Stalin also resolved to urge the Centre to reserve UG and PG seats in All India Quota in accordance with law prevailing in states and union territories.

Condemning the ruling AIADMK in the state and BJP-led Centre for failing on all fronts in controlling the spread of coronavirus, a resolution adopted at the all-party meeting held via video call on Sunday evening said that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who has refused to consult other parties and centralised coronavirus prevention measures instead of decentralising them, has failed on all fronts. Stating that the CM lacks ideas to revive the economy and industrial activity in the State, the resolution said that it was condemnable that the CM was consulting expert committee only for publicity without any concern for the people affected daily by the rapid spread of coronavirus. Urging the State to make constructive efforts to contain virus spread in the State, mainly in Chennai, the opposition parties urged the Central and State governments to pay Rs 7,500 and Rs 5,000 each respectively to the people affected by the lockdown. Another resolution accusing the Centre of attempting to usurp the rights of states on electricity urged the BJP regime to immediately withdraw the proposed Electricity Bill 2020 which attempts to scrap free electricity scheme for farmers and weavers.

The DMK led opposition also passed a resolution cautioning the BJP led Centre not to force the Opposition to mobilize OBCs across the country and organize a nationwide agitation demanding social justice and safeguarding reservation in medical admission. The resolution also asked the AIADMK regime here to not give up the rights of the state in medical reservation, as it did on NEET issue, and mount pressure on the Centre to safeguard reservation in medical education. Citing PG Medical Education Regulations 2000 and Regulations on Graduate Medical Education 1997, the all-party meet asked the Centre to ensure that UG and PG seats in all India quota were allotted in accordance with proportion of reservation followed in states and union territories.