BJP slams TVK govt over corruption, law and order collapse

Tirunelveli: Tamil Nadu BJP State President Nainar Nagenthran launched a sharp attack on the ruling TVK government, alleging corruption in government expenditures, a complete breakdown of law and order, and a steep decline in decorum of the state’s Legislative Assembly. Addressing reporters here, the BJP leader contrasted the current Assembly proceedings with past sessions where public welfare transcended party lines.

“When I asked then DMK Minister E V Velu for a bypass for Tirunelveli to ease traffic congestion, a Rs 350-crore bypass was sanctioned even though I am in the BJP,” Nagenthran said, adding that similar requests for arts and veterinary colleges were previously granted by the government without political bias. However, he alleged that current Assembly debates have degenerated into inappropriate displays of caste and religious identities. “A minister says his Christian religion is more important to him than his Tamil identity. Someone else claims a particular caste. This is what is happening in the Assembly,” he said, condemning the erosion of legislative dignity.

Levelling specific allegations of financial irregularity, Nagenthran questioned the expenditures incurred for renovating the chief minister’s chamber. “They are spending Rs 5.40 crore to shift the chief minister’s room. Who awarded this tender? If a work is awarded directly without floating a tender as per our system, it is called corruption. This alone is proof,” he charged.

On the agricultural front, the BJP leader dismissed the recent Rs 3 hike in milk procurement prices as grossly inadequate for dairy farmers. “A three-rupee hike in milk procurement price is not sufficient for farmers. The prices of cattle feed and oil cakes have shot up, with a bag of feed costing Rs 700 to Rs 800 today,” he stated.