BJP demands Rs 2,000 cr central aid for cyclone-hit Tmail Nadu

COIMBATORE: Tamil Nadu unit of BJP today asked the Centre to declare the damage and loss caused by cyclone Thane as a 'national disaster' and announce a compensation of at least Rs. 2,000 crore for rehabilitation of the affected people and areas.

Though Tamil Nadu Government had sanctioned about Rs.800 crore towards relief measures, the extensive loss and damage were not properly assessed and the officials were not quick enough to reach the relief measures to the victims, state BJP President Pon Radhakrishnan told reporters here.

He wanted all MPs from Tamil Nadu to provide Rs. one crore from their MPLAD funds and MLAs their entire one year quota of funds for rehabilitation of the areas affected by the cyclone that crossed the coast near Cuddalore on December 30.

On the doctors' strike, Radhakrishnan condemned the murder of the woman doctor in Tuticorin but disapproved the strike saying it directly affected poor patients.

Doctors could lodge their protest by other ways, he said adding the government should take stringent action against police personnel who failed to take immediate action.