தங்கநகைக்கு 1 சதவீத கலால்வரி விதிக்கப்பட்டதை எதிர்த்து நாடு முழுவதும் தொடர் போராட்டம் நடக்கிறது.இதை பற்றி முதல்வர் இன்னும் வாய் திறக்கவில்லை

DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin sharply criticized Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on March 14, 2016, for maintaining total silence while jewelry artisans, workers, and merchants across Tamil Nadu and India staged ongoing protests against the one percent excise duty levy. Stalin noted that while trade associations had shut down shops indefinitely, bringing commercial activity to a standstill, the state government failed to utter a single word in support of affected workers.

Stalin highlighted the acute plight of thousands of traditional goldsmiths across major jewelry centers such as Coimbatore, Madurai, and Tiruchirappalli, who faced sudden loss of daily wages and severe livelihood distress due to the prolonged commercial shutdown. He stated that an alert, compassionate chief minister would have immediately written to the Prime Minister and Union Finance Minister demanding an outright repeal of the burdensome excise levy.

Stalin pointed out that the AIADMK leadership's persistent indifference revealed its complete disconnection from working-class livelihoods and small business communities. He reaffirmed that the DMK actively supports the legitimate demands of the striking jewelers and goldsmiths, pledging that the party will continue pressing central authorities to cancel the excise burden.