DMK MPs meet PM Modi, demand more powers to States

DMK MPs on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and handed over a memorandum seeking constitutional amendment giving more powers to States, exemption to Tamil Nadu from NEET and directing Karnataka to halt irrigation schemes since it would affect the State.

Upping the ante on its pet ideological theme of more autonomy, the DMK said states were left with greatly reduced law-making powers.

"The DMK, therefore, demands suitable amendments to the Constitution to accord rights to States in the true spirit of federalism," a memorandum by party chief M K Stalin said.

DMK's Parliamentary party leader T R Baalu and Kanimozhi were among the MPs who submitted the memorandum, the party said here.

Education should be brought back to the State List in the Constitution to enable states to address education related issues in an efficient and expedient manner, the party said.

A bill to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in Assemblies and Parliament should be passed without any more delay.

The Centre should take steps to protect the rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka and halt attack on Indian fishermen by the island nation Navy, the DMK said.

Several Centre backed projects--hydrocarbon and methane exploration, petro chemical investment zone and Salem-Chennai expressway project--have "already proven to be anti-farmers," it said.

The Neutrino observatory project too has also been opposed by the people, the party said and wanted them to be halted.

Quota for OBCs in employment and education should be increased to 50 per cent besides fully implementing the present 27 per cent reservation without any backlog, the DMK said.

"We further demand that a white paper on implementation of 27 per cent reservation for OBCs be tabled in Parliament."
The DMK also wanted "greater allocation of funds to interlink rivers within the state and to fast track Godavari-Cauvery River linking project."