Annamalai’s Criticism of the Tamil Nadu Agriculture Budget
Tamil Nadu BJP State President Annamalai has strongly criticized the DMK government’s agriculture budget, calling it a collection of false promises and misleading claims. He stated that while the DMK government presents various schemes to attract the public, their actual implementation remains questionable.
Annamalai’s Statement
“The DMK government has presented this so-called agriculture budget as a mere paperwork exercise. In reality, it lacks any substantial measures to benefit farmers. There is a saying, ‘One grain of rice is enough to judge the entire pot.’ Similarly, the entire DMK budget is nothing but lies and deceptions. Who advised them that merely publicizing these empty promises would make people believe them?”
Reduction in Agricultural Land – A Hidden Fact?
Annamalai pointed out inconsistencies in the government’s statistics regarding agricultural land. In the previous year’s budget, the total cultivated area in Tamil Nadu for 2022-23 was reported as 155 lakh acres. However, in this year’s budget, the figure has decreased to 151 lakh acres, marking a decline of 4 lakh acres.
To obscure this decline, the DMK government compared the current cultivated area with the 2019-20 figures, claiming an increase instead of acknowledging the actual decrease. Annamalai questioned this approach:
“Does the DMK government think Tamil Nadu’s people are fools? The truth is, cultivated land has decreased compared to last year. Instead of admitting this, they manipulate data and present misleading comparisons to hide reality.”
Farm Loan Waivers – A Broken Promise?
Annamalai also targeted the government’s farm loan waiver scheme. In February, the BJP had already pointed out delays in loan waivers, but the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Minister dismissed the concerns. However, the latest agriculture budget clearly states that ₹1,774 crore worth of farm loans still remain unpaid.
“This proves that the DMK government is merely passing time with false promises and misleading statements. There is no real effort to uplift farmers or provide them with financial relief.”
Unfulfilled Election Promises
The DMK, during its 2021 election campaign, had promised a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,500 for paddy and ₹4,000 for sugarcane. However, Annamalai pointed out that even after two years, no action has been taken to fulfill these promises.
“The DMK promised MSPs for paddy and sugarcane but has failed to deliver. It continues to betray farmers while engaging in political gimmicks instead of addressing real agricultural issues.”
Agriculture Budget – Just a Collection of Documents?
Towards the end of his statement, Annamalai dismissed the agriculture budget as nothing more than a collection of official documents and political speeches.
“This budget lacks new initiatives, practical measures, or any real benefit for farmers. Instead, the DMK government has merely repackaged old schemes and presented them as new, misleading the people of Tamil Nadu.”
Conclusion
Annamalai’s critique suggests that the DMK’s agriculture budget does little to support farmers. He argues that key promises—such as loan waivers and MSPs—remain unfulfilled, while the government manipulates statistics to hide the decline in agricultural land. According to him, the budget serves only as a political tool rather than a genuine plan for agricultural development in Tamil Nadu.
