Got positive assurance from Modi on demands: Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday to raise demands concerning her state, said she had got assurances that whatever was necessary would be done.

Jayalalithaa told reporters after the meeting, which lasted 50 minutes, that the prime minister was very receptive to the state's demands.

"He gave me a patient hearing and promised to do the needful," she said.

It was Jayalalithaa's first meeting with Modi since he became prime minister.

She said Modi told her that he had been a chief minister for 13 years and knew of difficulties faced by the chief ministers and he would do everything in his power to ensure that the needs of Tamil Nadu were met.

A statement issued by the Tamil Nadu government in Chennai said the memorandum submitted by Jayalalithaa to Modi contained issues relating to inter-state river water sharing including the Cauvery and Mullaperiyar; Sri Lankan Tamils; restoration of the traditional fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen; and putting an end to the harassment of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.

It also included demands for grant of the digital addressable system licence for the Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation; infrastructure, specifically power, urban infrastructure and services, metro rail, transport and industrial infrastructure, as well as issues relating to modernisation of the police force; agriculture insurance and food security; and protection of poor students.

Other issues were Centre-state fiscal relations including shortfall in releases of grants due to the state; redesign of centrally sponsored schemes; issues relating to Goods and Services Tax and compensation for Central Sales Tax and declaration of Tamil as an official language.

Answering queries after the meeting, Jayalalithaa said there was no proposal to join the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.

Asked if her party will support the NDA government from outside, Jayalalithaa said the alliance has a majority on its own.

"The NDA has got independent majority. For that matter, the BJP has got independent majority. They do not need outside support," she said.

Asked if her party will support the BJP in Rajya Sabha, where it is in minority, Jayalalithaa said: "We will see when the situation arises."