“Will reciting Thirukkural solve Tamil Nadu’s hunger,” asked Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi at a protest meeting to condemn the Union Budget held in Tirunelveli recently.
Speaking at the meeting Ms. Kanimozhi said, “In the budget, ‘Tamil Nadu’ has not been mentioned even once. The BJP does not even have the mindset to offer minimal support to the States that do not align with them politically.”
She added. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi portrays himself as someone who cares for Tamils, but will reciting Thirukkural in the budget speech solve the hunger of people.”
She noted that many people could not tolerate Tamil Nadu’s progress. The Union government introduced GST under one nation, one tax policy and yet it continued to manipulate financial allocation to the State. Tamil Nadu received ₹58,000 crore annually as its GST share, while Uttar Pradesh got ₹2,55 lakh crore. The welfare of the southern States, including Tamil Nadu, was deliberately being ignored under the pretext that they were ‘developed States’.
Additionally, the Centre was imposing the National Education Policy and planned to introduce entrance exams for arts and science colleges. The entrance exams were designed to prevent common people from accessing education. “No matter how much Tamil Nadu is betrayed, we have the strength to overcome our adversaries. We will certainly emerge victorious,” she said.
Palayamkottai MLA Abdul Wahab and other DMK functionaries of the district were present at the meeting.
Published - February 10, 2025 06:13 pm IST
