TRB Rajaa Questions TVK Government Over Chennai Investment Conclave
Former Finance Minister T R B Rajaa on Friday questioned the TVK government's functioning and criticized the manner in which the recent Vettri Tamil Nadu Investment Conclave was conducted in Chennai.
In a statement issued on Friday, Rajaa raised questions over the government's stance on key infrastructure initiatives, specifically the establishment of new airports at Parandur in Kanchipuram district and in Hosur, stating that both projects are essential for the development of the state.
Rajaa stated that almost 75 percent of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) resulting from the conclave had already been prepared during the tenure of the previous DMK government. He asked why no new major projects had arrived in Tamil Nadu during the first 100 days of the TVK regime.
According to Rajaa, former Chief Minister M K Stalin had conducted all negotiations during his tenure and finalized the projects for which MoUs were formally signed at the Chennai conclave. He noted that the state could only be elevated to the next level by utilizing the work executed by the previous administration.
The former minister also questioned why the media was not permitted to attend the conclave, wondering why there was so much secrecy surrounding the event. He questioned whether the exclusion occurred due to concerns that journalists would find out that the plans for the MoUs had been formulated by the DMK government. Rajaa stressed that it was important to invite media representatives to cover the conclave to help attract investments and promote the event.
Rajaa further noted that the conclave's logo, originally designed under the DMK government with the legend 'Bullish on TN', had been changed. He stated that the branding had been created for Tamil Nadu rather than a political party and argued there was no need to rebrand the event or place new stickers everywhere, as the previous government had marketed the long-term project properly and brought publicity to it.
Concluding his statement, Rajaa urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to pay more attention to investment promotion and ensure that more foreign investments come to Tamil Nadu so that the development ushered in by the previous government continues.
