Union Minister Piyush Goyal Accuses Tamil Nadu Government of Withholding Housing Scheme Benefits
Union Minister Piyush Goyal made serious allegations on Monday, stating that the Tamil Nadu government has denied benefits under the central housing for all scheme to approximately three lakh families. According to Goyal, this failure occurred because the state administration did not provide the Union government with the necessary names of beneficiaries.
Impact on Vulnerable Populations
This omission has had a profound impact, affecting nearly 12 lakh individuals who have missed out on access to essential housing amenities. These include homes equipped with toilets, cooking gas connections, reliable electricity, and digital connectivity. Goyal directly challenged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, demanding an explanation for this oversight.
"I want an answer from Stalin. What does he have against those three lakh poor families who could have benefited from the Central government scheme?" Goyal questioned during a press interaction in Chennai.
Questions Over Infrastructure and Fund Utilization
Speaking on the sidelines of the Bharatiya Janata Party's foundation day celebrations, Goyal further scrutinized the state government's performance. He challenged Stalin to name a single high-quality infrastructure project created by his administration in Tamil Nadu. The Union Minister also raised concerns about the utilization of central funds allocated to the state.
Goyal highlighted that tax devolution to Tamil Nadu has doubled over the past decade, while grants-in-aid have increased four-and-a-half times compared to the period between 2004 and 2014. Specifically, grants rose from approximately 57,000 crore to 2,50,000 crore. "Where has this money gone?" he asked, implying potential mismanagement or misallocation of resources.
Allegations of Corruption in Central Schemes
The Minister did not shy away from alleging corruption, particularly referencing the Jal Jeevan Mission. He confirmed that investigations are currently underway to identify those involved, including examining whether the Chief Minister bears direct responsibility. "We will ensure that they face the consequences of their corrupt activities," Goyal asserted, signaling a firm stance against any malpractice.
Clarification on Language Policy and Accusations of Misinformation
Addressing the contentious issue of language policy, Goyal clarified that the National Education Policy does not mandate any particular language. He accused the state government of spreading misinformation on this matter. "We are trying to encourage native languages as per the choice of each ward's parents, to decide what native language they want to teach their children. There is no compulsion to teach Hindi," he explained.
Goyal labeled this as another falsehood being propagated by Stalin, suggesting it was a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. "This is another lie that Stalin is repeating, hoping that people will fall for his falsehood," he stated.
Political Campaigning Intensifies in Tamil Nadu
In related political developments, as many as six Union ministers, including G. Kishan Reddy, Suresh Gopi, and Jyotiraditya Scindia, campaigned across Tamil Nadu on Monday. They were actively supporting National Democratic Alliance candidates in the ongoing electoral context. Additionally, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was present in Madurai, backing Rama Sreenivasan, who is contesting from the Madurai South constituency.
The allegations and political activities underscore the heightened tensions and competitive dynamics in Tamil Nadu's political landscape, with central schemes and governance becoming focal points of debate.
