CPI to burn copy of 'anti-Tamil' Union Budget across TN today
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CPI General Secretary D. Raja.
Chennai : The Communist Party of India (CPI) has announced statewide protests in Tamil Nadu on Saturday, condemning what it calls the Union Budget’s neglect of the state. As part of the agitation, CPI members will burn copies of the budget, highlighting their opposition.
The party has criticized the budget for failing to address key economic issues such as unemployment, inflation, and the depreciating rupee. CPI General Secretary D. Raja denounced the budget as “deceptive” and inadequate in its allocations for crucial sectors like rural employment, education, and healthcare.
Accusing the Narendra Modi-led central government of prioritizing corporate interests over public welfare, Raja slammed its push for privatization of public sector enterprises while ignoring pressing economic concerns.
In Chennai, Raja will join the protest at Flower Bazaar alongside CPI’s Tamil Nadu state secretary R. Mutharasan. Senior party leaders and Members of Parliament, K. Subbarayan and V. Selvaraj, will lead separate protest marches in Tiruppur and Nagapattinam, respectively.
Emphasizing the need for collective resistance against the BJP’s economic policies, Raja called for widespread public participation in the demonstrations to safeguard democracy and economic justice.
Separately, the CPI leader strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump over allegations of inhumane treatment of Indian immigrants. Referring to reports that deported individuals were shackled during flights, Raja termed Trump’s policies “imperialist madness” and urged the Indian government to issue a strong diplomatic condemnation.
He also reaffirmed the CPI’s support for the Palestinian cause and urged India to take a firm stand on the issue.
The CPI, which is an ally of the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, currently holds two Lok Sabha seats. In the 2019 general elections, senior CPI leader K. Subbarayan won from the Tiruppur constituency, defeating AIADMK candidate P. Arunachalam by a margin of 1,25,928 votes. Similarly, V. Selvaraj secured victory in the Nagapattinam (SC) Lok Sabha constituency, winning by 2,08,957 votes against AIADMK’s Surjeet Shankar.
Selvaraj, a long-time CPI leader, has served as the Tiruvarur district secretary and is also known for his contributions as a folk artist and a key member of the Tamil Nadu Kalai Ilakkiya Perumandram for nearly four decades.
In the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, the CPI holds two seats. Party candidate T. Ramachandran won from the Thalli constituency, while K. Marimuthu emerged victorious in Thiruthuraipoondi.
With IANS inputs