Multi-party protest held in Coimbatore against the Union Budget 2024-25, claiming Tamil Nadu was ignored. Demonstrators criticized the lack of funds for disaster relief and metro projects.
Coimbatore: A multi-party protest was held in front of the BSNL office in Coimbatore on Friday, condemning the ruling BJP government for allegedly neglecting Tamil Nadu and its people in the Union Budget 2024-25.
Protesters expressed their dissatisfaction over the absence of disaster relief funds, lack of allocation for Coimbatore-Madurai metro rail projects, and the failure to announce railway-related projects for Tamil Nadu. Demonstrators wore flowers on their ears as a symbolic gesture of protest and raised slogans against the central government. They also sang "Govinda Govinda" as part of their demonstration.
Speaking to reporters during the protest, Ramakrishnan, General Secretary of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, stated, "None of the demands put forth by the Chief Minister for Tamil Nadu were met in yesterday's budget presentation. While the Modi government allocated funds to Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, it has not set aside any funds for Tamil Nadu."
Ramakrishnan further added, "Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who used to quote Thirukkural in previous budget presentations, has ignored both Thirukkural and Thiruvalluvar this time. The people of Tamil Nadu are being neglected simply because they didn't vote for the BJP."
He pointed out that Tamil Nadu ranks second among the states that pay the highest taxes in India, yet the Modi government has treated it like a stepchild. Ramakrishnan warned that in the future, all parties would plan to show black flags to central ministers visiting Tamil Nadu.
The protesters criticized the central government for what they perceive as discriminatory treatment towards Tamil Nadu in the Union Budget, highlighting the state's significant economic contributions and the lack of reciprocal support from the center.