Tamil Nadu: The following is a summary of the issues raised and recorded by Tamil Nadu MPs in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha:
In the Lok Sabha…
Will an airport be built in Thiruvarur?
DMK Lok Sabha floor leader T.R. Baalu (Sriperumbudur) raised a question during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, asking, “Considering the lakhs of people who visit places like the Velankanni temple, Nagore Dargah, Thiruvarur Thyagaraja temple, and the Karunanidhi memorial, will the Central Government establish an airport in Thiruvarur?” Responding to this, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said that as far as a new airport is concerned, the primary condition is the availability of land. The Tamil Nadu government can identify such land and send a proposal to the Central Government for establishing the airport. Based on that, a feasibility study will be initiated, and a decision will be taken based on its outcome.
Opposition to the Stock Exchange Code Bill!
- Arun Nehru, Perambalur (DMK)
While the consolidation of laws is desirable, this bill is not merely a simple consolidation but fundamentally alters the balance between Parliament, the Executive, and the regulatory authority; it affects only market participants. I oppose this bill on four grounds: granting legislative power to a specific body, concentrating power in the hands of the SEBI regulatory authority, undermining the character of the regulatory authority, and exceeding its limits. This bill, which centralizes power, weakens parliamentary control. It prioritizes enforcement over norms and accountability.
Increase the number of trains connecting Kanyakumari!
- Vijay Vasanth, Kanyakumari (Congress)
The public has been consistently requesting special trains for the Christmas, New Year, and Pongal festivals. Since these requests are not being fulfilled, thousands of passengers are facing immense difficulties. The double-tracking work, especially on important routes to Kanyakumari, is progressing at a slow pace. This should be expedited. At Kanyakumari and Nagercoil railway stations, basic amenities, including passenger seating, platform shelters, waiting rooms, and sanitation facilities, fall short of passenger expectations. These should be addressed on a war footing.
Enact a law to curb online abuse!
- S. Jyothimani, Karur (Congress)
In our country, digital platforms are becoming a breeding ground for abuse against women. Criminal laws such as doxing (revealing personal information without consent) and cyberstalking (following someone online without their knowledge) are not being properly enforced. There are no clear legal provisions to curb organized online “trolling” activities, which include spreading defamatory comments and systematic cyberbullying on social media platforms. This threat has been further exacerbated by the misuse of artificial intelligence. To rectify this, a comprehensive law should be enacted that clearly defines and criminalizes all forms of online abuse, including those perpetrated using artificial intelligence.
Release the Samagra Shiksha funds!
- K.E. Prakash, Erode (DMK)
The Central Government has withheld over ₹3548.22 crore under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, which is meant for school infrastructure, teachers’ salaries, maintenance, and basic learning support for approximately 43.94 lakh students, 2.21 lakh teachers, and 32,701 staff in Tamil Nadu. The Central Government claims that the funds have been withheld because the Tamil Nadu government has not signed certain MoUs related to the National Education Policy 2020 and the PM SHRI scheme. Samagra Shiksha is a centrally sponsored scheme under the Right to Education Act and is not a reward for complying with the government’s policy. Therefore, the Central Government should release these funds immediately.
