Stalin says Budget, a mere formality

Chennai, Mar 21 : DMK floor leader in the Assembly M K Stalin today said budget presentation in Tamil Nadu was a mere formality with the proposals remaining on paper only.

In a statement, Mr Stalin said many announcements have already been made by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa even before the Budget.

In January 2013, as many as 25 announcements were made by the Chief Minister, Mr Stalin observed.

Besides, when he sought to know from the Chief Minister the announcements made in the 2011-12 Budget, she replied the GOs were issued nearly a year after the Budget proposals were announced.

Similarly, at the Collectors Conference in 2011, the GOs for projects announced were issued a couple of days before the Budget was presented in 2012, she replied.

Hence, experience in the past couple of years showed that as far as the AIADMK government announcements in the Budget were concerned, there was no question of funds being allocated and GOs issued for implementation issued in the same year itself.

Therefore, the AIADMK Budget did not have any time frame for implementation with proposals remaining only on paper, he claimed before staging a walkout from the Assembly.