Chennai: The DMK president M K Stalin on Thursday spoke over the phone to former Finance minister, P Chidambaram after the latter's release from Tihar jail on bail in the INX media case after 106 days in prison.
Mr. Stalin enquired about Mr. Chidambaram's health and urged him to take care of his health in the wake of reports that the incarceration had badly affected the senior Congress leader's health condition.
In a separate statement, Stalin condemned the gross under-utilization by the Tamil Nadu government to augment security measures for women from the Centre's 'Nirbhaya Fund'.
Stalin said while during 2016-17, the Centre had released Rs.9.65 crore from the 'Nirbhaya Fund', the state government had not spent the amount in full for women's security. Only Rs. six crore had been spent, he said. Apart from this, Rs. 190 crore allotted for women welfare schemes, Tamil Nadu performance in implementing them was poor, he said, adding, this was shocking. Hence, women's security in Tamil Nadu had become a 'question mark', Stalin observed.
Mr. Stalin urged the government to "put down with an iron hand" crimes against women in Tamil Nadu to ensure their safety and security.
The DMK leader also expressed deep pain at the disaster in a Sudan ceramic factory which claimed the lives of 18 Indians including six from Tamil Nadu. Mr. Stalin said he had asked DMK parliamentary party leader T R Baalu to take up with the External Affairs ministry to provide necessary assistance and help to the victims including those from Tamil Nadu.
