Chennai: “The budget has no use for the poor and common people and the government is not bothered about farmers,” said DMK president M K Stalin on Friday slamming the AIADMK government’s budget.
Pointing at aspects such as rising debt burden and fiscal deficit, Stalin said the budget was focused on debt servicing rather being growth oriented.
Speaking to reporters, the DMK president said the budget was a shadow and not real. There were one crore unemployed graduates who have registered themselves in employment exchanges in the State, but there was no announcement to generate employment opportunities, he said.
“Approximately there is a debt of about Rs 4 lakh crore. There is, however, no announcement for revenue generation,” said Stalin.
The fiscal management scenario was tantamout to facing a bad failure in view of the mounting government debt, revenue and fiscal deficits, he said. He further stated that during Palaniswami’s rule alone loans to the tune of Rs 1,45,064 has been secured putting the State‘s economic growth behind by 25 years.
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran said, “Now, the government’s debt has jumped to Rs 3,97,000 crore for which the interest alone is over Rs 30,000 crore per annum. The increasing debt and skyrocketing interest is an indicator of administrative inefficiency.”
“The budget is a mere compilation of words…it offers no solution for shrinking job opportunities and farm distress,” said CPI (M) State Secretary K Balakrishnan. He claimed that the various measures announced in the budget were just a eyewash he said.
He hit out at the State government for avoiding key issues like Hydrocarbon extraction proposals in Cauvery delta region and Mekedatu dam issue.
CPI State Secretary R Mutharasan said the budget did not target the welfare or growth of the people and there was no debt relief for farmers and no plan to ensure the rehabilitation of people affected by cyclone Gaja. The “debt touched Rs 4 lakh crore…the government has not clarified as to how it is going to tackle the revenue deficit of Rs 44,176 crore,” he stated.
PMK founder S Ramadoss welcomed the Athikadavu Avinasi project for which fund allocation has been made. However, the rest of the budget were disappointing.