Chennai: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday welcomed chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s statement that Tamil Nadu govt would cooperate with Union govt on administrative matters though BJP is TVK’s ideological enemy.“As a Union minister, I welcome the announcement of TVK govt that it will cooperate with Union govt,’’ Nirmala told reporters in Kancheepuram after a book release event.“Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has never asked me to differentiate between states on fund allocation and distribution of projects. Tamil Nadu received its due share of funds. We implemented some mega projects in Tuticorin. Union govt will still extend the same cooperation to Tamil Nadu and disburse all funds,” Nirmala said.On Tamil Nadu’s rising debt, she said there is nothing wrong in states borrowing funds, but it should be used for capital investments. “When we borrow, we should create assets such as schools, hospitals or industries, which can cater to the needs of people for the next 50 years,” she said.“If that was done, economy will also grow. But what DMK did was revenue expenditure where they gave money to the people and offered salary hike. I am not saying that you shouldn’t do this, but do this when you have excess revenue,” she added.She justified Vijay’s ‘short story’ taunting former CM M K Stalin for his defeat in the recently assembly election. “There is nothing wrong in it. Where else will you do politics if not for assembly,” the minister asked.
