Jaya miffed over Centre's stiff hand on aid to TN

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is unlikely to attend the Inter-State council meeting being held in New Delhi on July 16. She is believed to be unwell and is upset that none of her demands like more financial aid for the State, as mentioned in her June memorandum, have been okayed by the Centre. So far, the files haven't moved in either the PMO or the Finance Ministry for the sanctions for the projects Jaya wants for her state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured Jayalalithaa a month ago that there would be a Special Task Force from the PMO on Tamil Nadu, but it is yet to be constituted. So, a miffed Jaya has decided to sit this one meet out, a senior AIADMK leader says. Modi will meet chief ministers on July 16 to discuss a host of issues, including inter-state relations, internal security and atrocities on the weaker sections. Convened after a gap of 10 years, the 11th meeting of the Inter-State Council in Delhi will also discuss issues concerning school education, direct benefit scheme, Aadhaar card, good governance and economic and social planning. The Prime Minister is the chairman of the Council while six of his senior Cabinet Ministers -- Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, M Venkaiah Naidu, Nitin Gadkari, Manohar Parrikar -- were nominated by him as members.