The Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) on Sunday condemned the Union government for rejecting the Tamil Nadu government’s proposals for Metro Rail projects in Coimbatore and Madurai for a second time recently.

In a statement, P. Abdul Samad, the party’s general secretary, said the Centre’s rejection of the Tamil Nadu government’s proposal was a deliberate attempt to stall the growth of the State. He alleged that the move was against the spirit of cooperative federalism.

Mr. Samad also questioned the Union government’s rationale in not applying the same population criterion while granting approval for Metro Rail projects in other States.