Protest by DMK allies turns show of strength

Chennai: The DMK front's statewide protest against the "neglect" of Tamil Nadu in the Union Budget, turned out to be a show of strength and solidarity of the alliance.In the 1,500-odd places where the protests were organised across the state, cadres and local leaders of all the parties in the DMK front took part. In Chennai, leaders of TNCC, MDMK, VCK, CPM, CPI, Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi and IUML participated.
TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai shared the stage with leaders of DMK and allies in Chennai. Hitting out at the BJP, he said the Union govt "neglected TN" for the past 12 years. "Not even a single paise was allocated to Tamil Nadu in the Union Budget. Since they are sure of their electoral defeat, they boycotted our state," Selvaperunthagai said. CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said the Union Budget did not provide a solution to any of the problems faced by the people in India. "Unemployment is a major problem, but there is no scheme in the budget to create employment," he said.Chief minister M K Stalin said on X that TN will not remain a mute spectator if the BJP govt continues to provide "zero" for the state in the budget. "We will give zero in return to the BJP for indulging in gross injustice," he said.