Synopsis
The Tamil Nadu Assembly budget session opened with the AIADMK walking out and the BJP boycotting after accusations of corruption against the ruling DMK government. Key leaders called for accountability over a significant liquor scam and criticized changes to the budget logo.Key Takeaways
- AIADMK walked out of the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
- BJP boycotted the budget session.
- EPS accused DMK of corruption involving Rs 1,000 crore.
- Vanathi Srinivasan criticized the removal of the Indian rupee symbol.
- Controversy surrounds the new budget logo.
Chennai, March 14 (NationPress) The Tamil Nadu Assembly commenced its budget session with a dramatic turn as the opposition AIADMK opted for a walkout, while the BJP chose to boycott the proceedings.
AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of Opposition, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), criticized the ruling DMK government for its failure to address a liquor scam alleged to involve corruption exceeding Rs 1,000 crore.
Speaking to journalists outside the Assembly, EPS called for the resignation of the DMK government, citing moral accountability linked to the scam.
He condemned the government for its lack of transparency, asserting that despite an ongoing investigation, no significant measures had been implemented.
EPS further claimed that the opposition had proposed a no-confidence motion against the Speaker, which was disregarded and not discussed.
Meanwhile, BJP leader and Coimbatore MLA Vanathi Srinivasan addressed the media outside the Assembly, elaborating on the party’s decision to boycott the session. She accused the Tamil Nadu government of disrespecting the Constitution by eliminating the Devanagari rupee symbol from the state budget logo, replacing it with the Tamil rupee symbol.
She argued that while the Tamil rupee symbol is frequently used in private and personal contexts, the official removal of the nationally recognized rupee symbol was intentional.
According to her, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and his cabinet had sworn an oath under the Constitution, yet their actions undermined constitutional values.
Vanathi Srinivasan also charged the DMK government with diverting public attention from critical issues, such as the Rs 1,000 crore liquor scam highlighted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
She alleged that rather than tackling corruption, the government was engaging in superficial changes to redirect focus.
This year’s budget presentation has been marred by controversy following Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s decision to eliminate the Indian rupee symbol (₹) from the state budget’s official logo. Instead, the Tamil alphabet ‘Roo’ (‘ரூ’) has been selected to denote ‘Roobai,’ the Tamil term for rupee.
On Thursday (March 13), CM Stalin revealed the promotional logo for the budget, showcasing the new symbol alongside the slogan “Ellarkum Ellam” (Everything for Everyone), highlighting inclusivity. However, this move has faced severe backlash from opposition leaders and Union Ministers, who accused the DMK government of fostering linguistic and regional chauvinism.
The Tamil Nadu budget session began with Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu presenting the budget. However, the walkout by AIADMK and the BJP’s boycott signal a tumultuous and contentious session ahead.
