Union budget huge disappointment: TN CM
Chennai (PTI): Hitting out at the Centre for ignoring Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday said that the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was a huge disappointment to the state.
The interests of Tamil Nadu have been completely ignored and the budget has got nothing for the poor, women, farmers and the marginalised, he said.
"As Tamil Nadu gears for the assembly elections, we expected at least this year that the state would be visible to the eyes of the Union BJP government and our voices will be heard by them. However, this year too, the BJP government has delivered only disappointment," he said in a statement here.
He charged that the demand from various states, including Tamil Nadu to increase the states' share of total tax revenue from 41 per cent to 50 per cent was "ignored" once again.
"The announcement that devolution will remain at 41 per cent is disappointing," he said.
Stalin said that despite the 16th Finance Commission attempts to recognise the contribution of states towards India's economic growth, it is distressing that Tamil Nadu being the second largest economy, receives a lower percentage of financial devolution.
"It appears that the tax devolution for Tamil Nadu will remain at a meager 4.097 per cent for the next 5 years," he said, and added as per estimates it would lead to a financial loss of about Rs 5,000 crore every year.
While noting that the state revenues have been affected by the restructuring of the Goods and Services Tax, it is condemnable that Tamil Nadu's share of Union taxes has been reduced by about Rs 1,200 crore this year, he said.
On the Jal Jeevan Mission, the chief minister said the state government has been insisting the Centre for release of Rs 3,112 crore under the project. But in the budget allocation for this scheme which was at Rs 67,000 crore in 2025-26 budget estimates has been reduced to Rs 17,000 crore in the revised estimates. "This looks like an attempt to completely stall the project", he remarked.
Pointing to the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the rural road connectivity scheme, Stalin said an allocation of Rs 19,000 crore was announced in the previous budget. Now, it has been allocated only Rs 11,000 crore in the revised estimates, he said.
Similarly, he said the allocation under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) scheme has been reduced from the earlier announced Rs 35,832 crore to Rs 32,500 crore.
"The biggest disappointment is the PM Internship scheme which was announced amid fanfare last year with an allocation of Rs 10,831 crore. The funding has been slashed to just Rs 526 crore indicating that the scheme has received poor response", he claimed.
The chief minister while noting that the government was eagerly expecting projects for the welfare of Tamil Nadu will be included in the budget, there was no mention of new projects. "The lack of new projects has showcased that the Union Government continues to treat Tamil Nadu with a step-motherly attitude", he said.
Referring to the customary of using 'Thirukkural' verse while presenting the budget speech by the finance minister, Stalin said it was absent this time. "Budget did not have any important projects for Tamil Nadu also. In total, it is a disappointment", he said.
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Karnataka Muslim Convention to be held in Bengaluru on May 16
Muslim organisations to release report on Congress govt’s three-year performance
Bengaluru: Major Muslim organisations and federations in Karnataka have decided to organise a large public convention titled ‘Karnataka Muslim Convention’ at Town Hall in Bengaluru on May 16. During the convention, a comprehensive report reviewing the three-year performance of the Congress government under the theme “What did the Congress government promise? What did it do? What next?” will be released.
According to a statement issued on Friday, no politicians will be invited to the convention. The report will be submitted to the government and all MLAs after the event.
The convention is being held at a time when the Congress government is nearing the completion of three years in office on May 20. Muslim organisations have expressed dissatisfaction, alleging that despite extending strong support to the Congress in bringing it to power, the community is being neglected.
The Convention is being organised at time when there are concerns over inadequate political representation for Muslims, alleged neglect of community demands, and the suspension of senior Muslim leaders who had worked for the party for decades.
The organisers said the convention aims to raise questions on what the Congress government has delivered so far and what further steps are expected from the government.
The decision to hold the convention was taken during a meeting held on May 6 at A J International Hotel in Shivajinagar, Bengaluru. Representatives of major Muslim organisations, associations, ulema bodies, federations, and members of the ad hoc committee of Karnataka Rajya Muslim Okkoota attended the meeting.
More than 75 representatives and delegates, including senior ulemas, jamaat leaders, lawyers, retired officials, journalists and members of the KRMO ad hoc committee, participated in the discussions.
Members of the KRMO ad hoc committee’s report preparation team and experts from different sectors presented a detailed report on the Congress government’s three-year performance. The report examined promises made to Muslims on ten major issues, the extent to which they were fulfilled, pending promises, alleged discrimination in representation, and the demands now being placed before the government.
The report covered issues such as the hijab ban, reservation cancellation, hate speech and hate crimes, budget allocation, political representation, waqf matters, the anti-cow slaughter law, anti-conversion law, scholarships and educational grants.
Participants offered suggestions and recommendations on various points, and necessary corrections to the report were accepted after detailed discussions.
The meeting also reportedly expressed strong dissatisfaction over the manner in which the Congress government has treated the Muslim community. Participants are said to have opined that if the government and the Congress party continue in the same manner, the community should keep its political options open.
It was later decided that the report would be officially released at the large public convention on May 16 under the title “Karnataka Muslim Convention – What did the Congress government promise? What did it do? What next?”
The organisers appealed to people from all districts of the state to participate in large numbers and send a strong message to the government and the Congress party through the convention.
They also decided that all organisations, jamaats and associations should work towards ensuring participation from every district in Karnataka.
The statement reiterated that no politicians would be invited to the May 16 convention and that the report on the Congress government’s three-year performance would be submitted to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, ministers and MLAs after the event.
