DMK boycotts budget speech

The protest was aimed against the Centre’s delay in setting up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC) within six weeks as directed by the Supreme Court.

Soon after Panneerselvam, who also holds the Finance portfolio, rose to present his budget speech, leader of the Opposition and DMK working president MK Stalin sought to raise the issue. But, Speaker P Dhanapal refused permission, stating that the Deputy Chief Minister had started his budget speech. Then the DMK members staged a walk out and boycotted the budget presentation. They were followed by the members of its alliance parties Congress and IUML.