Skip to playerSkip to main content
  • 2 days ago
Union Home Minister held a key meeting with Chief Ministers of southern states at the Southern Zonal Council to discuss critical regional issues and center-state cooperation. During the meeting, state leaders highlighted major concerns affecting the southern region, including demands for exemption from the national entrance examination NEET, citing disadvantages for students from underprivileged backgrounds. Concerns were also raised regarding the upcoming delimitation exercise, emphasizing that states maintaining population control should not face reduced political representation or financial penalties. Additionally, leaders called for the implementation of the women's reservation bill, fair allocation of central funds, and resolution of inter-state water disputes alongside proposed infrastructure projects like high-speed rail corridors. While some states maintained a cooperative approach with the central government, others firmly voiced state-specific interests. The meeting underscored the evolving relationship between the center and southern states, focusing on collaborative development while addressing regional priorities.

Category

🗞
News
Transcript
00:00This was an important day. Home Minister Amit Shah meeting the southern state chief ministers.
00:06And remember, most of these states do not have the BJP in government.
00:10So it was very interesting, the conversation that met.
00:12The highlight, of course, was Tamil Nadu, considering it's the first-time chief minister Vijay.
00:16There were other chief ministers as well.
00:18The Tamil Nadu chief minister, in fact, has said that they do not want NEAT to be a part of
00:24the examination for the state,
00:26that the state be exempted from the NEAT examination.
00:29Let's go across to what other states also have mentioned.
00:32While NEAT did remain, interestingly, the big focus here, saying that it disadvantages students who are from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.
00:43He also raised the delimitation issue that South must not be penalised for population control and it should not diminish
00:49South's voice.
00:50Karnataka chief minister D.K. Shiv Kumar raising the Mekhidatu project, calling for Kaveri issue to be resolved.
00:55He urged the centre to implement the Women's Quota Bill with the same strength.
00:59Asking the centre to fund South fairly gives South its due.
01:03Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandra Babu Naidu is letting issues between the south and centre can be resolved through
01:08cooperation.
01:12That's the big news.
01:13Remember that for Kerala, Tamil Nadu, other states as well, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, all of this is going to be
01:21very significant how they coordinate with government at the centre.
01:24Especially the states that do not have either the BJP or the BJP alliance partners.
01:29And that is why, while Chandra Babu Naidu maintaining, as Andhra Pradesh CM and part of the NDA, that cooperation
01:36can come in for all these sides to integrate the view and integrate southern grid with the centre.
01:42But Tamil Nadu chief minister, Karnataka chief minister, Kerala CM, of course, had different views.
01:51So, in just a short while, we are going to tell you more clarity as the images that are coming
01:55in of meeting all the South chief ministers who interacted and met with Home Minister Amisha.
02:03That's VD Satisan, Chief Minister Kerala.
02:07And that's also a change in government that had happened there in the southern state.
02:11There was Karnataka chief minister, D.K. Shivakumar.
02:15There was Andhra Pradesh chief minister, Chandra Babu Naidu, part of NDA.
02:18There was, of course, Tamil Nadu chief minister, Vijay.
02:21But what an interesting conversation also.
02:23Remember, it is very important.
02:24It does not matter which party is heading a certain state.
02:29Eventually, it has to be cooperation.
02:31Look at the image on your screen.
02:33The seating speaks for itself.
02:36Vijay seated right alongside Home Minister Amisha on the other side of Chandra Babu Naidu.
02:40There is also D.K. Shivakumar and other chief ministers as well.
02:45Sagai Raj joins me for the latest on that.
02:47Sagai, how should we view this meeting with Home Minister Amisha while Tamil Nadu was the focus with regard to
02:51NET and Chief Minister Vijay is first in here.
02:54But one of the most experienced ones as a CM or in that position is D.K. Shivakumar.
03:03Absolutely.
03:04And that is the reason he played a big brother role in this particular meeting where he has requested the
03:10central government and Home Minister for multiple projects,
03:14including where he has highlighted that not to reduce any kind of seats in the delimitation and also accommodate women
03:21reservation in all these existing seats.
03:24And he has also said that the southern region of India plays a major role when it comes to the
03:31development of the entire country.
03:32In that, Karnataka plays a crucial role because it has been a big brother.
03:36The development and the kind of contribution that Karnataka has made, whether it is software, hardware or any other business,
03:42Karnataka has been a main contributor.
03:44And he has highlighted all those points.
03:46And even if you notice that the other experienced Chief Minister is Chandra Babu Naidu, where he has also emphasized
03:52on bullet train connection between Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
03:58So he has also requested a merit-based project to be allocated for southern states because they have worked hard.
04:05And the kind of population and the kind of infrastructure and the corridor that they have to facilitate any kind
04:11of special project will be a big boost for the southern states.
04:14I think, Saga, I keep tracking all the latest on that.
04:17So different Chief Ministers of these states have different views, of course, looking at their state interest.
04:22But I want to tell you primarily about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay and how his strategy has been very
04:27interesting vis-a-vis the centre.
04:29He's already met Modi government five times.
04:32He's constantly reaching out to the centre, whether via letters or the statements.
04:36And it's not exactly confrontational in tone as much.
04:40In just three months, these meetings have taken place.
04:43A shift in Tamil Nadu government's usual approach, otherwise, toward this centre.
04:48Vijay government is now hosting Home Minister Amit Shah for the Southern Zonal Council meeting,
04:53attended by Chief Ministers of Southern States, M.K. Stalin, who's often seen locking horns, remember, earlier, with the centre.
05:00So while the DMK and the BJP leading the centre didn't really get along,
05:04this approach and a certain growing comfort, Bonhomi, are changing centre Tamil Nadu equation.
05:11Dravidar Manitra Karagam traditionally adopted a more high-decibel confrontational approach.
05:16Their domestic interests with regard to that approach were considered to be bold against the centre,
05:22speaking for the state.
05:23But Chief Minister is making it also clear, Chief Minister Vijay Singh,
05:27state government can work with the centre,
05:29while still raising its voice firmly on issues concerning Tamil Nadu.
05:37Chief Minister Di Catuco
05:37running on our go-to
05:37Whether More Minister Diémjenred
Comments

Recommended