Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has said that India cannot achieve growth by punishing state governments, urging the Centre to respect federal principles and release due funds.

Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that GST rate cuts and increased income tax exemption limits would help Indians save ₹2.5 lakh crore, Stalin pointed out that opposition parties had been demanding such measures from the beginning. “Had these steps been taken eight years ago, Indian families would have saved several crores much earlier,” he said.

The Chief Minister also noted that the recently announced tax cuts are being borne equally by state governments. “The Centre is hiding this fact and refusing to acknowledge the contribution of states. It is my duty to point this out,” he remarked.

Stalin further accused the BJP-led government of denying Tamil Nadu its rightful share of central funds. He said that funds under the Integrated Education Scheme were being withheld simply because the state opposed the imposition of Hindi. “When will this injustice end?” he asked.

He stressed that penalising states which stand up for their people and their rights would not lead to national progress. “Respect federalism, release the rightful funds, and let people benefit from what is due to them,” Stalin urged.