Tamil Nadu CM Stalin to Boycott NITI Aayog Meet Over Union Budget Snub

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has decided to boycott the NITI Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27, citing complete neglect of Tamil Nadu in the Union Budget. DMK MPs will stage a protest in Delhi on July 24 to condemn the budget.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin announced on Tuesday his decision to boycott the NITI Aayog meeting in Delhi, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, scheduled for July 27. Stalin condemned the Union Budget as a major disappointment, asserting that Tamil Nadu has been completely ignored.

In response, DMK MPs plan to stage a protest in Delhi on July 24. Stalin explained the decision as necessary to uphold Tamil Nadu’s rights, criticizing the budget for favoring certain states to cater to regional political interests. He cited the lack of funding for Tamil Nadu's Metro Rail scheme and other projects as evidence of the state being overlooked.

Stalin also pointed out that despite the Centre’s promises, implementation remains uncertain for states like Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. He lamented that Tamil Nadu, along with the culturally significant Tirukkural, was not mentioned in the Budget, highlighting the omission of key projects for Madurai and Coimbatore.