Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly witnessed fierce verbal clashes between the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam during the State Budget discussion. The intense debate centered around allegations of corruption, the mounting state debt, and the implementation of key social welfare schemes.
The confrontation began when former minister and DMK MLA Raghupathi criticized the unconventional manner in which TVK ministers presented the budget. Raghupathi pointed out that the Finance Minister presented the budget while holding a prayer bead, whereas the Agriculture Minister arrived with Tirupati laddu and puliyodarai. He then shifted focus to administrative matters, raising serious questions about the functioning of the Right to Information Commission due to delayed appointments.
Higher Education Minister Vishwanathan countered a specific claim made by the opposition regarding Praveen Chakravarty, clarifying that he is a Rajya Sabha member who does not represent any state government committee. Following this, Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar instructed members to refrain from quoting unapproved newspaper reports on the floor.
The debate escalated when Raghupathi alleged leakages in government tenders and claimed that contractors were forced to pay a three percent cut to get their bills cleared in the Water Resources Department. Finance Minister Dr N Mary Wilson responded that accounts from three departments had already been audited, and a detailed report on irregularities was submitted to the Chief Minister. Water Resources Minister Anand vehemently denied the bribery allegations, stating that such practices might have existed during the previous regime but hold no place in the current administration. Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjun echoed this sentiment, declaring that not a single rupee had been taken as a bribe under the present government.
Welfare programs also sparked heated exchanges. Raghupathi questioned the status of the Nammai Kaappom 48 emergency medical scheme and the 150 day employment program. Health Minister Arun Raj assured the House that the medical initiative would continue without interruption. When the opposition brought up pending applications for 200 units of free electricity and women entitlement funds, the Finance Minister hit back. Dr Wilson held former Chief Minister MK Stalin responsible for the massive state debt, stating that every citizen now carries a financial burden of Rs 1.28 lakh.
In defense, senior DMK leader Nehru argued that the previous government only borrowed funds for crucial development projects with strict approval from the Reserve Bank of India. The session highlighted the growing political friction between the new TVK government and the DMK over fiscal responsibility.