M.K. Stalin to boycott PM-led NITI Aayog meet for neglecting T.N. in Union Budget
Chief Minister M K Stalin would boycott the NITI Aayog meeting in Delhi on August 27 and every subsequent meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protest against the total neglect of the State in the Union Budget, which, he said, had been partial to States like Bihar and Andhra Pradesh for obvious political reasons and deprived Tamil Nadu of its required funds and new road or rail projects.
Speaking to the media at Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters, on Tuesday after the budget was presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Seetharam in Parliament, Stalin said he was highly disappointed as the budget did not aspire to help the people of the State in any way and alleged that the people were being victimized for resisting communal forces in the Lok Sabha elections.
Referring Modi’s statement the other day that politics could be kept out of governance, Stalin said that that spirit did not reflect in budget that only favoured the States whose ruling parties facilitated the minority BJP Government turn into a majority, though it was not clear if those promises would be kept or reneged as in the case of releasing funds for the Chennai Metro Rail project.
Also a Union Budget should aim at addressing the needs and requirements of the people of the whole country, he said, referring to his own philosophy to serve those who voted for his party and also those who did not vote for it through the implementation of welfare schemes.