Chennai, Sept 5:
BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran on Saturday criticised the Tamil Nadu government on a range of issues, including law and order, sanitation workers’ protests, farmers’ welfare, electricity tariffs and the Chief Minister’s expenditure.
Speaking to reporters, Nagenthran questioned the government over the continuing incidents of murder in the State and asked whether Chief Minister M.K. Stalin would respond to the killings. He alleged that the government needed to take greater responsibility for maintaining law and order.
Nagenthran also criticised the conduct of Assembly proceedings, saying elected representatives should use the House to raise issues concerning the people rather than engage in what he described as “cinema dialogues”. He said discussions in the Assembly should focus on problems faced by the public and finding solutions to them.
On the language issue, Nagenthran said there was no question of changing Tamil Nadu’s linguistic identity and asserted that Tamil should remain the primary language in the State. He said there would be no compromise on the place of Tamil.
Nagenthran also alleged that the government had not fully implemented its promise of loan waiver for farmers. He questioned the delay in opening the Mettur dam for irrigation, saying it should have been opened on June 12, the customary date for the release of water for delta cultivation.
According to him, the dam was opened only last week, causing concern among farmers dependent on timely water release for cultivation.
Nagenthran further alleged that around Rs 5 crore was spent in connection with the Chief Minister’s visit, and questioned the justification for such expenditure.
He also raised the issue of repeated increases in electricity charges in Tamil Nadu. Nagenthran said power consumers were facing a growing financial burden because of the tariff increases and alleged that the Electricity Minister had not provided a satisfactory response on the issue.