Centre can't digest our growth: Udhayanidhi Stalin says Budget snubs Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin accuses the BJP-led central government of undermining the state's financial and educational rights, criticises the recent Union Budget, and attacks opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami for supporting the budget.
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday slammed the Centre, calling the Narendra Modi government "fascist" and alleging repeated infringements on the state’s constitutional and financial rights. He made the remarks at a party gathering, accusing the Centre of mistreating Tamil Nadu through its policies and budget allocations.
Speaking at an event in Thanjavur, Stalin alleged that the Centre was attempting to marginalise the state by curtailing its financial and educational rights, claiming it was unable to accept Tamil Nadu’s success.
The Deputy Chief Minister also targeted the Union Government’s education policies, arguing that they sought to impose non-Tamil languages in the state. "Unable to digest Tamil Nadu's growth, the BJP government is snatching our financial rights, education rights and trying to impose Hindi and Sanskrit languages," he said.
Udhayanidhi Stalin also criticised the recently-passed Union Budget, noting the absence of any schemes dedicated to Tamil Nadu. "There was not even one single project for the state and even the word 'Tamil Nadu' was not even mentioned in the budget speech."
"Sitharaman claims she is from Tamil Nadu. But there was no mention of even one project for the benefit of Tamil Nadu in her budget presentation. The Centre has been deceiving Tamil Nadu," he further said.
Udhayanidhi Stalin highlighted a pattern of neglect by the Centre, pointing to the previous year’s budget, saying, "Even the word Tamil Nadu did not feature in the budget." "Nirmala Sitharaman proudly says she's from Tamil Nadu but not even a single scheme for Tamil Nadu announced in the budget. EPS praised the budget even before it got released fully. You would all have heard of blind bhakts, EPS is blind slave of BJP," he added.
He also slammed opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami for supporting the budget. "The Leader of the Opposition, Edappadi Palaniswamy praised the budget even before reading it completely, He is staunch devotee of the BJP, or rather, a staunch slave," he went on, adding, "Edappadi Palaniswami is acting as a slave of the BJP, which is why he is welcoming this budget."
Showcasing the DMK government’s initiatives, Udhayanidhi Stalin said, "The highlight of the DMK government's achievement is the Kalaignar Urimai Thittam providing Rs 1,000 monthly to 1.30 crore women. Tamil Nadu leads India with a 13.19 per cent growth rate." He also pointed out at other state schemes such as free bus travel for women and morning meal programmes for school children.
Looking ahead to the assembly elections, the Deputy Chief Minister expressed confidence in his party’s prospects. "No matter how many slaves come and go, whether old or new, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam will definitely win at least 200 constituencies in the upcoming assembly elections, and MK Stalin will assume office as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu." "It is sure our leader (Stalin) will become the chief minister again and Thanjavur will be starting point for this victory," he further said.
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday slammed the Centre, calling the Narendra Modi government "fascist" and alleging repeated infringements on the state’s constitutional and financial rights. He made the remarks at a party gathering, accusing the Centre of mistreating Tamil Nadu through its policies and budget allocations.
Speaking at an event in Thanjavur, Stalin alleged that the Centre was attempting to marginalise the state by curtailing its financial and educational rights, claiming it was unable to accept Tamil Nadu’s success.
The Deputy Chief Minister also targeted the Union Government’s education policies, arguing that they sought to impose non-Tamil languages in the state. "Unable to digest Tamil Nadu's growth, the BJP government is snatching our financial rights, education rights and trying to impose Hindi and Sanskrit languages," he said.
Udhayanidhi Stalin also criticised the recently-passed Union Budget, noting the absence of any schemes dedicated to Tamil Nadu. "There was not even one single project for the state and even the word 'Tamil Nadu' was not even mentioned in the budget speech."
"Sitharaman claims she is from Tamil Nadu. But there was no mention of even one project for the benefit of Tamil Nadu in her budget presentation. The Centre has been deceiving Tamil Nadu," he further said.
Udhayanidhi Stalin highlighted a pattern of neglect by the Centre, pointing to the previous year’s budget, saying, "Even the word Tamil Nadu did not feature in the budget." "Nirmala Sitharaman proudly says she's from Tamil Nadu but not even a single scheme for Tamil Nadu announced in the budget. EPS praised the budget even before it got released fully. You would all have heard of blind bhakts, EPS is blind slave of BJP," he added.
He also slammed opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami for supporting the budget. "The Leader of the Opposition, Edappadi Palaniswamy praised the budget even before reading it completely, He is staunch devotee of the BJP, or rather, a staunch slave," he went on, adding, "Edappadi Palaniswami is acting as a slave of the BJP, which is why he is welcoming this budget."
Showcasing the DMK government’s initiatives, Udhayanidhi Stalin said, "The highlight of the DMK government's achievement is the Kalaignar Urimai Thittam providing Rs 1,000 monthly to 1.30 crore women. Tamil Nadu leads India with a 13.19 per cent growth rate." He also pointed out at other state schemes such as free bus travel for women and morning meal programmes for school children.
Looking ahead to the assembly elections, the Deputy Chief Minister expressed confidence in his party’s prospects. "No matter how many slaves come and go, whether old or new, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam will definitely win at least 200 constituencies in the upcoming assembly elections, and MK Stalin will assume office as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu." "It is sure our leader (Stalin) will become the chief minister again and Thanjavur will be starting point for this victory," he further said.