CM MK Stalin on Union Budget 2024: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government, which has formed the government for the third term, presented the Union Budget 2024 in Parliament on Tuesday (July 23).
Prime Minister on Union Budget 2024 Narendra Modi has hailed it as empowering the new middle class and empowering Dalits, Adivasis and the backward.
In this situation, Chief Minister M.K said that there are no special programs in the central budget and this budget is a big disappointment for the people of Tamil Nadu. Stalin said.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said in a statement: “The financial statement of a country has been a declaration of policy for all the states of the Indian nation to distribute their due share and help create a balanced development across the country and to improve the lives of millions of people living in the country.
But the financial statement of the Union Government for this year does not seem to be the financial statement of the whole of India. Rather, it is more like an alliance agreement with the rulers of Bihar and Andhra states for political reasons.
This year’s financial report is aimed at destroying the principles of Indian democracy and federalism, which are playing a major role in the development of the country for states like Tamil Nadu, which are playing a major role in the country’s development, for the sole reason that they have generously given funds to only a few states for political gains.
It is painful that the Union Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is thinking of settling the electoral accounts through financial statements. Affects the people of Tamil Nadu.
Despite the Tamil Nadu government continuously urging the Union government to provide disaster relief to repair the losses incurred in the two recent calamities, insufficient funds have been provided in this Union budget. While the Tamil Nadu government has submitted a detailed report on disbursement of Rs 37,000 crore as disaster relief, the Union government has so far disbursed only around Rs 276 crore. That too should be provided legally.
But today, besides states like Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Assam, Bihar alone has been given Rs 11,500 crore for disaster prevention work. This is a huge injustice to the people of Tamil Nadu.
Chennai Although the Union Government announced the second phase of the Metro Rail project three years ago, no funds have been released for the Chennai Metro Rail project. This has greatly affected the functioning of the Chennai Metro Rail Project and is causing severe hardship to the people of Chennai. Also, there is no announcement of metro rail projects for Coimbatore and Madurai cities in this financial statement.
It is very disappointing that no new rail or highway projects for Tamil Nadu have been mentioned in the Union Government financial report.
It has been announced that 3 crore houses will be built in the next 5 years under the Prime Minister’s housing scheme. However, there is no announcement regarding raising the assessment for a house. Currently, the share of the Union Government is Rs 1.5 lakh for houses being built in urban areas, of which the State Government spends around Rs 12-14 lakh per house.
Therefore, increasing the number of houses without increasing the share of the Union Government will result in an additional financial burden on the State Governments. Naming the Prime Minister’s name on the project is not enough. We expect funds to be provided accordingly.
Looking at the major schemes announced by the Union Government, it looks like a copy of our state government’s budget. For example, a thousand vocational training centers development plan, hostels for working women (friends), hostels for factory workers, hydroelectric power generation policies etc. are already included in the budget report of the Tamil Nadu government.
In particular, the Union Government has announced today that it will provide skill training to 20 lakh youth across the country for the next five years. But it is noteworthy that in Tamil Nadu alone, we are providing skill training to more than 15 lakh youths every year.
In his financial statement, the Union Finance Minister has copied many projects that are already being implemented well in Tamil Nadu. But why did the person who bought and used the night not announce a big project for Tamil Nadu as a debt of gratitude?
The Union Government has announced a reduction in the stamp duty in the State List. However, there is no announcement to compensate this revenue loss. Therefore, the Union Government should provide compensation to offset the reduction in stamp duty. It is to be noted that already, the Union Government is not providing compensation for the annual loss of Rs 20,000 crore to Tamil Nadu due to Goods and Services Tax.
The Union government’s fiscal statement has reduced income tax rates only nominally, without any benefit to the middle class. It has been a huge disappointment to the middle class families that only 17,500 rupees have been reduced after ten years of no tax reduction, and even this reduction has been done only in the new tax system and no reduction has been given in the old system.
This is a financial statement that looks as if the interest of Tamil Nadu as a whole has been completely and deliberately ignored. I would like to inform you that this way of deceiving the people of Tamil Nadu is against the partnership philosophy of India. At this juncture, I again request that the State should provide the financial allocations for the various projects requested by the Government of Tamil Nadu.” He said.
Later, Chief Minister M.K. Addressing the press in Chennai about the central government’s budget for 2024, Stalin said: “The fact that this year’s financial statement is aimed at lashing out at states like Tamil Nadu, which are playing a major role in the country’s development, for the sole reason that they continue to ignore communal politics, is meant to undermine Indian democracy and federal principles.
There is no justice in this financial statement. There is too much injustice. A good government is to bring programs not only to the voters but also to the non-voters. Such is the functioning of the Tamil Nadu government. Looking at Tamil Nadu, the Union Government should change its course.
He did not want to participate in the Niti Aayog meeting, condemning the total neglect of Tamil Nadu in the Union government’s financial report. I think it is right to ignore the meeting of the Union Government which ignores Tamil Nadu as a whole. We will fight in the People’s Forum to uphold the needs and rights of Tamil Nadu.” He said.
Also, tomorrow as no new projects have been announced in Tamil Nadu DMK M.K. said that the coalition MPs will protest in the Parliament complex. Stalin said.
