Nirmala Sitharaman Welcomes TVK Leader Vijay Stance on Cooperation in Kancheepuram

On Thursday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman welcomed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK leader C Joseph Vijay’s statement that the state government would cooperate with the Union government on administrative matters despite ideological differences. Speaking to reporters in Kancheepuram after a book release event, Sitharaman expressed her support for this stance of administrative cooperation.

Addressing the media, Sitharaman stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has never instructed her to differentiate between states when it comes to fund allocation or the distribution of projects. She asserted that Tamil Nadu has consistently received its due share of funds from the Union government.

Sitharaman highlighted that the Union government has already implemented several mega projects in Tuticorin. She assured that the Union government would continue to extend the same level of cooperation to Tamil Nadu and disburse all eligible funds in the future.

The Union Finance Minister also commented on Tamil Nadu's rising debt. She stated that there is nothing wrong with states borrowing funds, provided the money is utilized for capital investments rather than revenue expenditure.

According to Sitharaman, borrowed funds should be used to create long-term assets such as schools, hospitals, or industries that can cater to the needs of the public for the next 50 years. She noted that such capital investments are crucial for economic growth.

Sitharaman criticized the DMK for its focus on revenue expenditure, pointing out that the party gave money to the public and offered salary hikes. While she stated she was not against these actions, she argued they should only be undertaken when a state has excess revenue.

Additionally, Sitharaman defended Vijay’s use of a "short story" to taunt former Chief Minister M K Stalin over his defeat in the recent assembly election. She justified the political move, questioning where else political debates would take place if not for the assembly.