Tamil Nadu Minister for Industries Thangam Thennarasu accused AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP Thambidurai of being the primary reason behind the Tungsten mining controversy. Speaking in the Assembly, he asserted that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is determined to ensure that no Tungsten mine will be established in Tamil Nadu under his leadership. “We have passed a resolution to this effect and sent it to the Central Government,” he said.
AIADMK’s Role in the Controversy
Tracing the origins of the issue, Minister Thennarasu alleged that the controversy began when AIADMK’s Rajya Sabha member supported the project in Parliament. “When the Tungsten mining issue was raised in the Rajya Sabha, it was your MP who backed it. This support laid the foundation for the Tungsten mining problem,” he remarked, addressing the AIADMK members.
When AIADMK MLAs interrupted with protests, Speaker Appavu intervened to restore order. Minister Thennarasu continued, stating, “It is my duty to respond to these accusations against our government.”
Tamil Nadu Governmentâs Opposition
The minister emphasized that the Tamil Nadu government has consistently opposed the project. “When the Central Government brought the Tungsten mining proposal, we rejected it. We opposed it at every stage, including during the tender process,” he said.
To further solidify their stance, the state government passed a resolution in the Assembly, reiterating their objection to the project. “We are committed to protecting the interests of Tamil Nadu and will not allow any project that harms our land or people,” the minister declared.
AIADMK Accused of Political Opportunism
Minister Thennarasu also accused the AIADMK of exploiting the issue for political gain. “You are now attempting to coolly distance yourselves from a problem that you initiated, simply to reap political benefits,” he stated, as AIADMK members continued their protests.