March 21, 2019
CHENNAI: Releasing the party's manifesto for the forthcoming parliamentary
elections, DMK president MK Stalin has promised the people of Tamil Nadu a reformative
Government, placing on record its controversial stand on vital issues of governance
and development involving structural changes in the national set-up.
The issues he raised range from recasting of Central-State relations, separate
budget for agriculture, transfer of the subject of education to the State List,
waiver of educational loans, to free rail travel for the students in the country.
Bringing up a great cheer from the student community of the State, Stalin said
a new Government on coming to power will forthwith abolish the NEET examination
system for medical admission and Tamil Nadu will have one of its own for its
students.
In an affirmative step ahead on the most emotive language issue, the DMK chief
said the party will demand Tamil as co-official language in all the Central
Government offices and banks in the State. Decades ago it was the same anti-Hindi
posture that catapulted the partry to undisputed prominence and power and brought
the Centre to its knees.
Hitting the nail on the head, the party leader said the Inter-State Council
will decide on the constitution of the Finance Commission and its working and
that a State will take 60 % of the total tax revenue which is raised from the
people of the State.
Among other suggestions, he wanted the limit of income tax raised to Rs 8 lakh
and for women and the differently abled up to Rs 10 lakh.
He asked the Centre to appoint one crore 10th Standard students for road maintenance
in the country. He cited the example of "Makkal Nala Paniyalargal" of the DMK
in Tamil Nadu. Stalin also asked for appointment 50 lakh women as welfare workers
throughout the country.
He said his Government will revert to the old pension scheme and the administered
price mechanism for fuel prices. He also promised citizenship to Lankan refugees
and wanted to free Rajiv killers from jail.
