Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Udhayanidhi Stalin visited New Delhi on Thursday, where he called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and invited him for the Khelo India Games as well as met Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in what he described as a “courtesy call”.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Mr. Udhayanidhi elaborated on his meeting with the Prime Minister and said: “I had requested time from him to invite him to the event [Khelo India]. He gave me time. I have handed over the invitation. He said he would definitely come and participate.”
Mr. Udhayanidhi also said that he also conveyed the message from Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to remind the Prime Minister about the Tamil Nadu government’s request for funds as relief over two natural disasters, which struck eight districts last month. “He [the PM] said he would definitely do it”, he said.
To a query on his meeting with Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, just a few months ahead of Parliamentary elections, Mr. Udhayanidhi termed it a “courtesy call”. Asked whether they discussed politics, Mr. Udhayanidhi said with a smile: “He spoke about it. But, I cannot speak about it now.” Mr. Gandhi spoke about his yatra from Manipur, he said.