Chennai: DMK president M.K. Stalin on Friday drew parallels between the lengthy budget addresses by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament recently and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam in the Assembly and alleged that the ruling AIADMK was "following" the Central government.
Slamming the government for presenting the budget which lacked vision, Stalin told reporters that AIADMK has been towing the line of Centre. Reacting to the budget, Panneerselvam's tenth since the AIADMK came to power in 2011, Stalin said it was a "deficit" one for everyone.
Stalin said, "It is deficit budget. There is nothing adequate (initiatives) for anyone." The fiscal and revenue deficit, besides debts, was increasing and this burdens the common man. This budget lacks both vision and schemes for growth.
Meanwhile, on chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami's recent announcement that the Cauvery delta districts, including the rice bowl of Thanjavur, would be categorised as a protected agriculture zone, Stalin wondered if the state government can implement it on its own. Referring to reports that Palaniswami had sent a letter to the Centre through his cabinet colleague D Jayakumar in this connection, Stalin demanded the contents of the communication be made public by Friday. "Else, I myself will release the letter," the DMK chief added. However, his party concurred with the ruling AIADMK on according the said categorisation to the Cauvery delta districts, he said.
