BJP TN Chief Annamalai leaves for UK for Oxford University's 3 months fellowship course

Chennai: Taking a short break from politics, BJP Tamil Nadu Unit President K Annamalai left for for UK to study a fellowship course in Oxford University, London.

He boarded a flight to London at 0400 hrs on wednesday morning.

Mr Annamalai, earlier, talking to reporters here, he said he has got the approval from the BJP high command for his foreign visit for the study tour and that he would come back with a better person.

He said though he will be a student in Oxford, he would continue to raise the issues concerning state through his statements and the senior leaders would take care of the party.

He said this was his first foreign tour.

Though he will be a student in London, his eyes, heart will be here and he was available to his party cadres and leaders on his phone", he said.

“At the end of the day, I believe that a politician has to improve his skills. I believe at this juncture in my life, at this age it is important that I go for a fellowship. I believe that I will come back as a better person,” he said.

Meanwhile, reacting to Chief Minister M K Stalin dashing of a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking to release funds under SS, which were withheld by the Centre due to non-implementation of the New Education Policy, Mr Annamalai said "Thiru @mkstalin often forgets commitments given to the people of our state & so does he to our Central Government."

"Samagra Shiksha has several components to it & the implementation of PM Shri schools is one of them; in the last 5 years under Samagra Shiksha, TN received Rs 8971 Crore", he pointed out, in a social media post.

The amount to TN under Samagra Siksha was Rs 1598 Crores in 2021-22 and had increased to Rs 2107 Crores in 2022-23. It has been reduced to Rs 1876 Crores because the TN Govt has not implemented all initiatives under the Samagra Shiksha., he noted.

In April this year, the TN Govt committed that the MoU for PM Shri schools will be signed and taken up for implementation after consultation from this academic year. 3 months have passed, and there are no signs of honouring that commitment.

"I'm not sure how the TN CM claims pending dues after not implementing programmes under Samagra Shiksha for which funds were provided in the previous year and diverted by the State Govt.", he added.

"With a state with a significant population with varied linguistics, why the TN Govt opposes the three language formula for Govt schools remains a mystery. In contrast, DMK leaders have long adopted the 3 language formula in their Pvt schools., Mr Annamalai said, adding, "We urge the DMK Govt to cut the theatrics & focus on honouring the commitments given by them!"..