Ready for debate on DMK schemes if Palaniswami invites me, says Udhayanidhi Stalin

CHENNAI: Responding to Leader of Opposition (LoP) Edappadi K Palaniswaimi who dared Chief Minister MK Stalin for a personal debate on schemes implemented by the incumbent state government, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday said that he would be game if the LoP invited him for a debate.

The State sports minister was speaking to media persons at the Nehru Indoor Sports Stadium here after distributing 'Champions Kit' to sportspersons residing in SDAT (Sport Development Authority of Tamil Nadu) hostels. When asked if any member of the government would accept the LoP’s offer and debate with him on the schemes implemented by the DMK regime, he replied, “If he (EPS) invites me, I will go.”

AIADMK chief Palaniswami had said that he was ready to talk about projects implemented during his tenure as CM without any ‘notes’ (reference material) and wondered if Chief Minister Stalin could also talk about schemes without notes. He also alleged that even capital funds had not been allotted for several schemes of the present DMK regime.

Meanwhile, on the opposition’s criticism about the DMK government's schemes and projects being named after a former Chief Minister (M Karunanidhi), Udhayanidhi asked, “Who else should it be named after?” The deputy chief minister further said, “Criticism will arise. We are naming the schemes/projects after the person they must be named after.”

To a query on the status of the proposed sports city project near Chennai, State Additional Chief Secretary, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department Atulya Mishra, who was present at Monday's event, said, “Already, our technical bid has been opened. The transitional advisor has been appointed. Within three months, they will submit a report. After that, we will float tenders.” Meanwhile, Udhayanidhi attributed the delay in the project to land issues.

Earlier, Udhayanidhi distributed 'Champions Kit' to 2,600 sportspersons and women students of SDAT hostels across the state, including 600 students in Chennai, worth Rs 86 lakh, at a function held under the aegis of the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority at the Nehru Indoor Sports Stadium here.

He virtually laid the foundation stones for establishing the district sports complex at a cost of Rs 15 crore in Ranipet and an Olympic Academy at a cost of Rs 6 crore in Madurai district sports complex.

Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority J Meghana Reddy, and other government officials participated.

(With PTI inputs)