TN parties support farmers’ stir backed by agents: CM
Charging that agents are instigating the farmers to protest and the opposition parties in Tamil Nadu are supporting the agitation just for political gain, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said, the opposition leader need not give him a certificate for being a farmer.
By : migrator
Update: 2020-12-17 01:53 GMT
Thiruchirapalli
The Chief Minister who spoke to the reporters, reiterated that the farmers in Tamil Nadu welcome the farm bills, but the political leaders in Tamil Nadu are enacting a drama by instigating the farmers to protest just to support the agents as the farm products cannot be sold solely by the agents once the bills come into effect, he said.
Answering a query why AIADMK was unable to prevent NEET in Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister said that the NEET was introduced by the UPA government led by the Congress in which the DMK was also sharing power. But they remained silent so that they could continue to be in power. However, the AIADMK government tried a lot to prevent but could not succeed and so the 7.5 per cent horizontal reservation was provided to benefit the students from government schools across the state and thus, as many as 313 students were given medical seats this year through the reservation and at least 440 seats would be added next year as the state government would start 11 new medical colleges through which 1,650 seats would be established, the CM said.
When asked about criticism made by DMK president MK Stalin, the Chief Minister said, “I do not want any certificate from Stalin for being a farmer,” he said.
Asked if jallikattu events will be allowed next month amidst the pandemic, the CM said that COVID-19 cases were coming down, but people are refusing to wear those mandatory masks.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister inaugurated a series of projects and said that MoU signed to the tune of Rs 2,100 crore in the Global Investors meet in 2019 has benefited Karur district and as many as 832 persons would get employment opportunities. Similarly, a textile park has been established in 2018-19 by signing a MoU with Japan International Cooperation Agency and the steps are initiated to allocate spaces for 100 textile entrepreneurs.
In the meantime, a government arts and science college has been established at Tharagampatti in 2020-21 and as many as 282 students are undergoing higher education in the college currently, the CM added.
Vaccine free for all
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Palaniswami said that the state government is very particular to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine free for all the people once the vaccine reaches India. He urged the people to ensure use of masks as the disease spreads faster and only adhering to the norms the disease would be prevented, he said.
EPS opens specialty eye hosp in Salem
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday inaugurated Dr Agarwal’s Super Specialty Eye Care Hospital in Salem.
In his inaugural address, the Chief Minister said, “the country has over 60 million people suffering from visual impairment and blindness. Over 80 per cent of eye ailments in India are either preventable or curable. But for limited access to eye care, the number of people living with impairment is on the rise.”
The state-of-the-art eye care hospital spread over in an area of 12,000 sq. ft has been opened on the 63rd anniversary of the group. On the expansion plans, Prof Amar Agarwal, Chairman, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospitals, said, “Our plan is to take the number of hospitals in the network from 90 plus today to 150 by 2022-23. The next phase of expansion and addition of 60 hospitals will focus not only on India but also across other countries.”
Dr Adil Agarwal, CEO of Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospitals, Dr Kaladevi, Regional Medical Director, Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, Tamil Nadu, and Dr Karpagavalli, Head, Clinical Services, Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, Salem were among those others present at the inaugural function. The hospital conducted free eye checkups for people who are 50 years and above on the inaugural day.
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