KANNIYAKUMARI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday said the fight to secure citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamils will continue. In a social media post after visiting the rehabilitation camp for Lankan Tamils at Perumalapuram,
Stalin stated, “We have been providing permanent houses to Sri Lankan Tamil brethrens. We will continue our fight to get them citizenship. We expect that the Government of India will provide citizenship to them who have been living on this land for many years. Our voice will continue to be raised for our Tamils.”
The CM also pointed out that the state has disbursed assistance of Rs 11. 07 crore towards higher education of 5,771 refugee students in the last three years.
Stalin, who was on his way to Kanniyakumari from Tirunelveli, made an unscheduled visit to the camp. After interacting with the families, he came to know that 90 houses have been constructed there at a cost of Rs 7.85 crore and that he was to inaugurate them on Wednesday.
In a heartwarming gesture, Stalin made the inmates inaugurate the dwellings instantly. Heeding to the request of the families, he also instructed officials to establish a PDS shop and community centre in the settlement.
Later, Stalin inaugurated an arch constructed at a cost of Rs 1.45 crore to mark the silver jubilee of the installation of Tiruvalluvar statue in Kanniyakumari. He also unveiled a statue of former CM M Karunanidhi and opened a Mudhalavar Padaippagam (library) at Kalladivilai, and unveiled a statue of freedom fighter Ponnappa Nadar at Sir CP Ramasamy park in Nagercoil in the evening. Stalin also honoured the family members of Ponnappa Nadar.
On Wednesday, the CM will distribute welfare assistance to beneficiaries and lay foundation stone for new projects and inaugurate completed projects in Nagercoil. Tension prevailed at the reception organised for the CM when a youth allegedly flew a drone without permission. Police detained the youth, identified as Guhan of Kanniyakumari, and seized the drone.