Chennai: Accusing the DMK of viewing the state Budget with “a jaundiced eye” finance minister D. Jayakumar charged the DMK of failing to channelise financial resources for the development of the state when it was in power and leaving behind a huge debt burden.
Firing salvos at the opposition provoked by a remark made by DMK legislator Sivakumar P. representing the Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, during a debate on Wednesday that AIADMK had rendered Tamil Nadu a debtor, Jayakumar claimed that the DMK had not obtained funds from its ally the Congress which had ruled the Centre. At this the DMK members protested and sought to reply.
When Sivakumar persisted asking if the government had constructed bridges or flyovers with the loans, power minister P. Thangamani retorted by saying the previous DMK regime had hiked electricity bills and left the EB (TANGEDCO) in dire straits.
At one juncture, Jayakumar while referring to the DMK’s attitude regarding milk producers’ agitation, remarked that their leader had once stated “when we are not afraid of blood shed, will we get scared of milk being discarded.” At this the DMK MLAs protested leading to chaos in the House. Later, Speaker P. Dhanapal asked the opposition members to return to their seats.
When the debate resumed, the focus was on the UDAY (Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana) scheme of the Centre. Justifying the decision to join the scheme the Centre’s package for reviving state-run electricity distribution utilities had its own benefits.
