The budget presented by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam has nothing for the poor and the funds that should be spent for growth of the state instead being paid as interest, said MK Stalin, Leader of Opposition and DMK president.
Leader of Opposition MK Stalin greeting a leader after the state Budget session at the Secretariat
Chennai:
However, Panneerselvam’s 2019-20 financial plan for the state evoked a mixed response from other opposition parties.
Stalin, also the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, said the budget has no announcements pertaining to employment generation as well as revenue generation given the debt levels at around Rs 4,00,000 crore. He said the state’s finances were similar to an insolvent company.
On the other hand, PMK founder S Ramadoss said the budget, although largely a disappointing one has a couple of good announcements like the allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the Athikadavu-Avinashi water scheme.
However, referring to the waste-to-energy project announced in the budget, Ramadoss said it would result in air pollution. The mega parking scheme here would result in congestion and not ease traffic, he added.
Interestingly, PMK is one of the parties that the ruling AIADMK wants as its electoral partner in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, said the announcement of schemes for the farmers (crop insurance), Athikadavu-Avinashi water scheme and increased allocation for education are comforting factors.
Dhinakaran said the non-receipt of dues from the Central government as mentioned in the budget shows that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister Panneerselvam have pledged the interests of the state for selfish reasons.
According to MDMK general secretary Vaiko, the budget has no new schemes and sounds like a compilation of the last eight budgets presented by Panneerselvam.
As per the budget, the total revenue income for 2019-20 is put at Rs 197,721.17 crore and the total revenue expenditure is estimated at Rs 212,035.93 crore resulting in a revenue deficit of Rs 14,314.76 crore.
Jayakumar hits back at oppn leader
Chennai: State Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar hit back at DMK president MK Stalin, for calling Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam a ‘musician’ repeating the same budget points like a song. Addressing reporters, Jayakumar said, “Music is an art and it makes people happy. I should thank Stalin for calling Paneerselvam a musician as musicians are generally brainy.” He also said that in music there are seven swarams but there is a doubt that whether Stalin knows it at all.