In a scathing attack on Friday, Tamil Nadu BJP State President Nainar Nagenthran accused Chief Minister M.K. Stalin of making unfounded allegations against the Central government. Nagenthran claimed that Stalin’s criticisms were merely a tactic to distract public attention from the DMK administration’s own shortcomings and policy missteps.
His remarks came as a direct response to Mr. Stalin’s questioning of the motives behind a BJP-led NDA delegation’s visit to Karur.
Nagenthran further challenged Stalin’s assertions that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had neglected to visit the state during natural calamities or failed to allocate necessary funds. The BJP leader highlighted Sitharaman’s presence during Cyclone Gaja and other disasters, asserting that the Central government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has already disbursed over ₹13,000 crore to Tamil Nadu for disaster relief. He questioned why the Chief Minister would attempt to conceal these significant contributions.
Dismissing accusations, Nagenthran stated, “We have no need to coerce people into joining our alliance or to engage in theatrical displays.”
He then turned the tables on Stalin, inquiring why, despite his swift visit to Karur, the Chief Minister had not yet visited other crisis-hit areas such as Kallakurichi (where numerous hooch deaths occurred), Vengaivayal (site of a drinking water contamination incident), and Sivaganga (where a custodial death was reported). Nagenthran pointedly asked if the political mileage gained from the Karur visit outweighed the profound suffering of citizens in these other regions.
Reiterating his strong stance, Nagenthran declared that the DMK government possesses no moral authority to critique the Central government. He concluded by asserting that the grave consequences of inadequate preparation and flawed planning, which resulted in the tragic deaths of 41 innocent individuals in Karur, would forever stain the DMK administration’s legacy.