Minister for Energy Resources and Law R. Nirmalkumar on Tuesday claimed that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had sought an appointment with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami after assuming office, but the AIADMK did not grant him the time.

“Considering the political situation at the time, as the AIADMK had faced electoral setbacks, some leaders of the party felt the meeting would not be appropriate. The appointment sought by the Chief Minister was not confirmed by the AIADMK,” the Minister claimed during an interaction with journalists at the Secretariat in Chennai.

Mr. Nirmalkumar’s response on the subject came against the backdrop of CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam’s remarks that Mr. Vijay should have met Mr. Palaniswami, as he had met other political party leaders after assuming office.

He also defended the State government’s position with respect to maintaining law and order. He said the Police Department had been taking immediate action whenever crimes reported and accused persons were arrested promptly. “But in the previous government, the approach was lackadaisical. Only after the intervention of courts action was taken by the government in some cases,” he said.

“In some cases, murders happen due to personal motives. But what matters is how the government takes action after the incident,” he said. Further, he said strict measures had been taken against quarries operating illegally.

To a question on farmers protesting against the State government and demanding a full waiver of crop loans, Mr. Nirmalkumar said more than 12 lakh small and marginal farmers. who had taken loans from cooperative societies, had benefitted from the crop loan waiver announced in different slabs. He also claimed some sections had protested due to instigation by the DMK.

He also said the Chief Minister will hold public meetings and continue to meet people at regular intervals.