AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami has voiced his “great disappointment” with the Union Budget 2024-2025, criticizing the central government for not announcing any new projects for Tamil Nadu.
In a strongly worded statement, Palaniswami accused the BJP-led central government of preparing the budget to satisfy its alliance partners in ruling states, rather than aiming for comprehensive and equal development across the nation. He highlighted the absence of any new projects for Tamil Nadu as evidence of the Centreās animosity towards the state.
āThe budget has been prepared to satisfy the BJPās alliance partnersā ruling states. It shows that the budget was not prepared with an objective to achieve comprehensive and equal development across the nation. More importantly, the Centre did not announce any project for Tamil Nadu. This shows the Centreās animosity against Tamil Nadu,ā Palaniswami said.
Palaniswami questioned the central government’s bias in fund allocation, particularly in the context of flood mitigation projects. He pointed out that while the Centre allocated funds for such projects in states like Bihar, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim, Tamil Nadu was overlooked.
āWhen the Centre allocates funds for flood mitigation works in Bihar, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim, why did it not allocate funds for similar projects in Tamil Nadu. Why is the Centre government biased (in allocating funds) to Tamil Nadu?ā he asked.
Palaniswami’s criticism echoes the sentiments expressed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who also condemned the budget for neglecting the state. CM Stalin announced a boycott of the upcoming Niti Aayog meeting and a protest by DMK MPs in response to the budget.