Opposition leader M.K. Stalin on Tuesday questioned the act of Finance Minister D. Jayakumar taking the budget papers outside the secretariat before they were presented in the Assembly.
Intervening during a debate on the Budget, Mr. Stalin said though he had no issues with the minister paying homage to late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, budget papers should not be taken out of the secretariat.
He said the DMK had already made a representation to the Governor in this regard.
When Mr. Jayakumar explained he had not violated the oath taken under the Constitution since had not leaked the content of the budget, Mr Stalin wondered whether the minister had carried only an empty suitcase to Jayalalithaa’s memorial.
Responding to Mr. Jayakumar’s allegation that the DMK government failed to get adequate funds and schemes even though it was part of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, Mr. Stalin listed the Metro Rail project, the Golden Quadrilateral project and Maduravoyal Elevated Expressway as some of the projects secured by the DMK for Tamil Nadu.
The DMK members also took exception to Mr. Jayakumar accusing former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam of behaving like a film personality.
