Chennai/New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital on Tuesday and discussed a host of issues related to the southern state.


COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

During her meeting with the Prime Minister, the AIADMK leader submitted a 96-page memorandum to the latter and sought financial assistance for the state.


In her 29 demands, the Tamil Nadu CM called for the early resolution of the Cauvery issue, Jallikattu row and declaring Tamil as the official language.



Among other issues, Jayalalithaa also voiced her concerns about the Goods and Services Tax or GST, which aims to bring the country under a unified tax regime.


"GST impacts fiscal autonomy of states and huge permanent revenue loss is expected for a manufacturing state like Tamil Nadu," Jayalalithaa reportedly said in a memorandum which was submitted to PM Modi.


"Before constitutional amendment on GST is taken up, Centre should strive for a broad consensus on important issues like compensation period and methodology, revenue neutral rates, floor rates with bands, commodities to be excluded from GST, so that states concerns on loss of fiscal autonomy and permanent revenue loss are allayed," the memorandum added.


 


 


 


Formation of Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee for the implementation of the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and Mullaperiyar issue was among the water resources-related issues that she discussed with PM Modi.


Continuing arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy vis-a-vis protection of their traditional fishing rights, retrieval of Katchatheevu which was ceded to the island nation decades ago by India were also discussed between the two.


The meeting also triggered speculations of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's  (AIADMK) likely support to the NDA government in the Rajya Sabha for the smooth passage of key legislative business where it has 13 members. Several crucial Bills like the GST are yet to see the light of the day in the Upper House.


This is Jayalalithaa's first visit to the national capital since assuming the post for a second consecutive term in Tamil Nadu after her party AIADMK secured a thumping victory in the Assembly polls that concluded last month.


Jayalalithaa, when she called on Modi on June 3, 2014, immediately after he took over as Prime Minister, had flagged the state's concerns over many issues including GST.


A meeting between the two took place last August when Modi had visited Tamil Nadu. He called on Jayalalithaa at her Poes Garden residence breaking protocol and she had submitted a memorandum comprising several state-specific requests to him.


She is also likely to meet union ministers Nirmala Sitaraman and Pon Radhakrishnan and discuss central schemes with them.


She arrived here this morning by a chartered flight for a meeting with the PM and will fly back to Chennai later in the evening. Upon her arrival here, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was given a 'Guard of Honour' by the Tamil Nadu Special Police contingent at the Tamil Nadu House.


(With PTI inputs)