The DMK will boycott the budget speech of Chief Minister N Rangasamy as a protest against the government’s failure to distribute drought relief to farmers, said A M H Nazeem, MLA, on Sunday.
Speaking to Express over phone from Karaikal, he said the AINRC government had even announced Karaikal as drought-hit area, but the relief amount of `20,000 per hectare is yet to be disbursed. Nazeem said the decision to boycott the budget speech was a symbolic one and the decision was taken only after consulting the DMK Puducherry convenor Dr M A S Subramaniam. “But our paty will take part in the budget discussions,” he said. The budget session of the Assembly will be convened from July 15. The DMK leader said `8.33 crore, announced in the vote on account for the Thirunallar Temple town (TTT) project, was also not given so far. He pointed out that it was announced that the State government would convene a meeting to discuss the Statehood issue, but so far no step has been taken.
Nazeem said the AINRC government had failed to take steps for implementing the decisions announced on the floor.
DMK will stage a demonstration near the head post office on Monday as part of its series of protests demanding implementation of the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal project.
DMK chief M Karunanidhi will lead the agitation at Nagapattinam, DMK treasurer M K Stalin at Tuticorin, Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, former ministers T R Baalu and A Raja at Cuddalore, Kanyakumari and Puthukottai respectively.