Told PM to focus on COVID-19, drop new Parliament building plan: DMK

Chennai, Apr 8 () The DMK on Wednesday said it urgedPrime Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting via video link todrop the move to construct a new Parliament building andinstead focus on battling COVID-19 and claimed that fundsannounced by the Centre for tackling the virus was inadequate.

The Dravidian party's senior leader T R Baalu, whorepresented his party in the video conference said he sought arelief of Rs 10,000 from the central government, in two equalinstallments, to be provided to all BPL families, besides Rs5,000 as subsidy to all LPG users.

In the meet, Baalu told reporters here that he asked Modito "drop the (building a new Parliament) move as it wasunnecessary at this juncture. The nation would requirehuge funds to combat Covid-19 pandemic."

Apparently, he indicated that funds (if any, the Centrewas mulling to allocate for the new project) could be used forpreventing and treating people besides other activitiesrelated to fighting the virus.

Baalu who called upon political parties to sink theirdifferences and strive together in containing the virus,questioned the rationale behind the Centre's decision to spenda whopping Rs 25,000 crores, to construct the new Parliamentbuilding.

Also, he raised the issue of about 300 Tamil Nadufishermen stranded in Iran and sought appropriate steps tobring them back.

"The Prime Minister noted all the points that I hademphasised," he said.

Terming the Covid-19 pandemic as an "emergency healthsituation" he said, "We are facing an emergency healthsituation and during this hour of crisis we should worktogether cutting across party lines to contain thecoronavirus."

"I had conveyed this to Prime Minister Narendra Modiduring the video conference today," he said. COR VGNROH ROH