Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday told the Niti Aayog governing council that it was not ideal for the country’s federal structure that state govts should constantly have to “fight, argue, and move courts” to secure their funds.“This affects not just the growth of individual states but the country as a whole,” he said at the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.“I urge the Union govt to provide impartial support to states, including Tamil Nadu, to help them achieve their development goals,” Stalin said. He urged the Modi govt to release the Samagra Shiksha funds without delay and without imposing ‘unilateral’ conditions.Stalin had skipped the annual session for the past three years. He accused the Centre of ignoring the interests of Tamil Nadu and boycotted the event last year.Talking to reporters later, Stalin expressed optimism that the Prime Minister would support the state’s requests. He recalled that funds for the metro rail project were released after he met Modi. “When I reminded him (Modi) of it and thanked him, he said that he did it because I came and told him. Similarly, I have asked him to do this too,” Stalin said.At the Niti Aayog meeting, Stalin proposed a new urban development scheme with substantial funding, focusing on quality infrastructure, efficient mobility, and sanitation. He also proposed a river rejuvenation scheme for major rivers in Tamil Nadu as well as other significant rivers across the country, drawing a parallel to the Swachh Ganga initiative that he described as having achieved remarkable success. “For all these schemes, I request that names be given in English, which serves as a link language for the states,” Stalin said.Commending the Prime Minister’s goal of a 30 trillion-dollar economy by 2047, Stalin recalled Modi’s earlier statement that states play a crucial role in achieving this vision. “Cooperative federalism is a necessary foundation to achieve this vision,” the chief minister said, reiterating Tamil Nadu’s request for a 50% share of Central taxes collected in the state.Stalin said the long-term vision of his govt was to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth founded on the principles of equality and social justice. He also reiterated Tamil Nadu’s commitment to contributing significantly to India’s economic growth, with a vision to achieve a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2030 and a 4.5 trillion economy by 2047. Later, Stalin told reporters that “I don’t have a white flag, nor a saffron flag held by him.” An apparent reference to AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami’s claims that Stalin was waving a ‘white flag’ at the Centre in the wake of ED searches. On the ED’s charges of a multi-crore scam in Tasmac, Stalin said these were politically motivated accusations and “nothing but lies”.Stalin described his meetings with Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as routine whenever he was in the capital. “At the same time, we also discussed politics,” he said.