Rs 1,000, gift hamper to families for Pongal: TN Guv to House; Oppn boycotts address

The Tamil Nadu government would give Rs 1,000 and a gift hamper to every family with a ration card for Pongal, Governor Banwarilal Purohit told the Assembly in his address on Wednesday that was boycotted by the DMK and its allies.

The boycott came despite the governor, breaking convention, requested Leader of the Opposition M K Stalin "with folded hands" to resume his seat.

During his customary speech on the opening day of the Assembly session, he said to mitigate the impact of cyclone Gaja in the Cauvery delta and drought in the northern districts, the government "will distribute gift hampers containing raw rice, sugar, raisins, cashew nut, cardamom and sugarcane to all card holders to celebrate Pongal festival."
Though such river water issues could be "better resolved through mutual trust and understanding, Tamil Nadu has been repeatedly forced to seek legal remedy to protect its legitimate riparian rights", Purohit said, adding Chief Minister K Palaniswami is committed to protecting the state's interests "by all legal means."