Speaking to reporters here, Rajaa, in response to a question, asked, “From where did UP get money? Is it an internal development? We have grown in all sectors and TN accounts for 15 per cent of the total factory workers in the country.” Further, he said, “Secured investments stand at around 11.32 lakh crores. In the last 3-4 years alone, around 35 lakh job opportunities have been created and this is according to the central government data and economic boom. When the national growth rate is 6-7 percent, Tamil Nadu has seen a growth of 11.19 percent.
“The funds received by Uttar Pradesh are the largesse of the union government and it is not even that, it is the funds (tax contribution) of Tamil Nadu; Uttar Pradesh is living its life on the funds of Tamil Nadu and that is the truth.” When TN gives one rupee in tax, the state gets only 29 paisa in return and where does the rest go? It goes to states like Uttar Pradesh. “They are telling a story that we have surplus funds and that is false,” he said.
The minister, while commenting on the difference between being a woman in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere in the country, said that in the northern states, a woman is usually asked only about her husband’s work.
Addressing an event organized at a renowned women’s college here, Rajaa said in Tamil Nadu, however, the scenario is different. In Tamil Nadu alone, a woman is asked about her academic performance and work.
“This did not happen overnight, it took at least a century of work in Tamil Nadu,” he said, highlighting the work of leaders of the Dravidian movement, including Periyar EV Ramasamy.
Among all women working in organized sector factories across India, 43 percent are from Tamil Nadu.
“This is an extremely proud number,” he said, adding that “the rest of India does not give enough importance to our women.”
