The ruling DMK and its alliance partners under the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) on Wednesday staged a massive protest in Coimbatore condemning the BJP-led Central government for refusing to grant approval for the long-awaited Coimbatore Metro Rail project.
The demonstration, led by senior DMK leader and former Minister V. Senthil Balaji, saw a large turnout of DMK cadres and alliance party members. Protesters raised slogans denouncing the Centre for âhampering the development of the Textile Cityâ by withholding permission for the project.
SPA leaders accused the Union government of ignoring Tamil Naduâs interests on several fronts, including unequal sharing of GST revenue, refusal to release funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) over Tamil Naduâs non-acceptance of the NEP-2020, and now denying approval for Metro projects in Coimbatore and Madurai.
Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin strongly criticised the Centreâs stance, calling it âdisgracefulâ, âan act of revengeâ, and a distortion of federal principles. He asserted that Tamil Naduââthe land of self-respectââwould never accept such discriminatory treatment.