Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister R Vinoth criticized for taking draft budget to Tirupati temple

Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister R Vinoth carried the draft Agriculture Budget for 2026‑27 to the Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati on 1 August, ahead of its scheduled tabling in the state assembly on 6 August. The act sparked condemnation from political parties, activists and lawmakers, who said using an official government document in a religious ceremony violated the secular character of the constitution and the minister’s oath of secrecy.

Critics included environmental activist G Sundarrajan, who questioned the timing amid farmer distress over the Cauvery water dispute, and MP Su Venkatesan, who called the budget a constitutional record, not a religious offering. CPI state secretary M Veerapandian, the AIADMK IT wing and the DMK student wing also demanded an inquiry, urging the government to uphold secularism and proper handling of official documents.