BJP leader objects to FM's 'claims' on Chettinad devt

Chennai, July 30 (UNI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state Vice-President and former legislator H Raja today disputed Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram's claim that the Centre had sanctioned Rs 4.75 crore for the Chettinand ancient town development scheme after he took the initiative.

Referring to Mr Chidambaram's statement that the Centre had released the fund after he wrote to Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni, based on the proposal sent by the Tamil Nadu Government, Mr Raja, in a statement here said this was contrary to facts.

The BJP leader, who represented Karaikudi assembly constituency in Sivaganga district, said the scheme was sanctioned during the previous BJP-led NDA Government itself.

After accepting the scheme, the then Tourism Minister Jagmohan had announced that the Centre would release Rs 15 crore at the rate of Rs three crore per year for five years. This was disclosed by the then Sivaganga Congress MP, Sudharsan Nachiappan also.

He said Mr Chidambaram should have secured Rs 15 crore for the scheme from the Centre till 2007-08, but he was boasting of getting Rs 4.75 crore, that too based on the request made by the state government, Mr Raja said.

UNI