Tamil Nadu: Upset Over 'Vengeful' Union Budget, CM Stalin To Boycott NITI Aayog Meet

Instead of focusing on the welfare of all Indians, Stalin claimed that the Finance Minister had prepared a union budget aimed at punishing those who supported the I.N.D.I.A. bloc.

On the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to preside over the ninth governing council meeting of the NITI Aayog in Delhi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday reaffirmed his decision to boycott the meet. Citing an alleged discriminatory attitude towards Tamil Nadu in the Union Budget 2024, Stalin claimed that the budget appeared to be a retaliatory act against states and citizens who opposed the BJP in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Budget 2024-25: "Revenge Against Those Who Voted Against BJP"

In a strongly worded statement, CM Stalin accused the BJP-led government of operating with a political agenda. "I often say, 'A good government is one that works not only for the people who voted in favour of us but also for those who did not.' This is how the Tamil Nadu government functions! All the Union Governments before the Modi-led BJP Government were like this. But that magnanimity is missing with Modi’s BJP Government,” he remarked.

Stalin contended that the Union Budget presented on July 23 was evidence of the BJP's vengeful motives. He said, “In the recently held parliamentary elections, the people of various states have defeated the anti-people BJP. The Budget presented by Union Finance Minister seems like a vengeful act against the states and people who boycotted the BJP.”

Instead of focusing on the welfare of all Indians, Stalin claimed that the Finance Minister had prepared a budget aimed at punishing those who supported the I.N.D.I.A. bloc.

'Tamil Nadu is Continuously Disregarded': Stalin

The Chief Minister highlighted the lack of mention of the word Tamil Nadu in the budget. "In the past, they at least used to recite a Thirukkural for namesake. It seems they got bitter with Thiruvalluvar also this time. In a way, I am relieved that there is no Thirukkural in this (discriminatory) budget,” he said.

Stalin also criticised the delayed funding for the Chennai Metro Rail Project’s second phase, for which Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone in 2020. "Without releasing even a single rupee from its own funds, the Union Government has been delaying for three years! If we raise questions, they respond in Parliament stating that this is a state-sponsored project,” he lamented.

Expressing further disappointment, Stalin noted that the expected announcement of flood relief funds was absent from the budget. Instead, he accused the Union Government of deceitfully attempting to reduce funds for ongoing projects.

He added, “The worst of all is that, in order to paralyze the school education department of Tamil Nadu, they have even held up the funds - that should have been released as usual – for SSA since they want to sanction only after agreeing to implement the NEP.”

A Budget of Vengeance?

Concluding his statement, Stalin declared, “This is not just a budget taking revenge on Tamil Nadu—it is a budget that takes revenge against entire India! This is a ‘save the government budget’ of BJP to remain in power! As the voice of the people of Tamil Nadu, in fact, as the voice of all the Indian people, let me say something: 'You are committing mistake after mistake! You will suffer more and more defeats. Just as both houses of the Indian Parliament are in outrage, the hearts of the Indian people are also raging against you! THE BJP MUST ANSWER!'”