Tamil Nadu: DMK uses budget to hit out at Centre
Item
Title
Tamil Nadu: DMK uses budget to hit out at Centre
Description
TRICHY: Tucked away in the green folds of the DMK government's first agriculture Budget is a political message: We are against the new farm laws.In his introductory speech on the agriculture budget, as promised in their election manifesto, minister for agriculture and farmers welfare M R K Panneerselvam said, “I dedicate the budget to those farmers who struggle at the national capital with brave hearts to agitate against the farm laws and wish to present this before the assembly.” BJP government had enacted Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act despite stiff opposition from farmers and political parties terming the laws ‘anti-farmers’ and ‘pro-corporates’, prompting the farmers to continue with the protests since August 2020. The reference to the continuous protests by the farmers at the national capital and extending solidarity to it reiterated the firmness of the DMK government in taking on the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. DMK has been taking on the union government over issues surrounding NEET, New Education Policy and three languages policy. The latest friction between the DMK and the central government was caused by the DMK calling them ‘Ondriya Arasu’ – the union government. Over 1,000 farmers owing allegiance to CPI affiliated Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam from various districts in Tamil Nadu reached Delhi on Saturday and joined the protesting farmers at then Singhu border. “The dedication of the agriculture budget to the protesting farmers makes us proud. By supporting our protest, DMK is sending a strong message to BJP that the party is with the farmers,” said Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam Trichy district secretary Ayilai Sivasurian, from Delhi. Sivasurian also said that members of the agriculture wing of DMK also joined them in the protests.
Publisher
The Times of India
Date
2021-08-15
Coverage
Trichy