Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management K.A. Sengottaiyan on Friday (June 26) criticised BJP State president Nainar Nagenthran for targeting the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) instead of the DMK, describing his remarks as “laughable” and “painful”.

Speaking to reporters at Nambiyur, Mr. Sengottaiyan said Mr. Nagenthran’s application for permission to establish a medical college was a matter of public record. “Everyone knows that he had applied for a medical college. Even if he denies it, the application is on record. I merely referred to that. Whether he later decided against pursuing the proposal is a different matter,” he said.

Responding to Mr. Nagendran’s remark that he should “exercise restraint”, the Minister said he had always done so. “Instead of criticising the DMK, he is criticising the TVK. It is laughable that he has chosen to target us while sparing the DMK. His only job seems to be attacking the TVK,” he said.

Claiming that the BJP’s vote share had declined from 11% to 4%, Mr. Sengottaiyan said Mr. Nagenthran should explain the reasons for the fall. Stating that the TVK had not made remarks intended to hurt anyone, the Minister said Mr. Nagenthran, who had served with him in the Cabinet, should express his views after assessing the situation objectively. “We are carrying on our work without attacking anyone. It is not appropriate for him to target us,” he said.

On the demand for a waiver of crop loans in view of the continuing farmers’ protests, Mr. Sengottaiyan said Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had already explained the government’s stand in the Assembly and that there was nothing more to add.

Responding to a question on the delay in releasing water from reservoirs, he said the southwest monsoon had been below normal this year, resulting in poor inflows into reservoirs and a delay in releasing water into canals. Referring to the opening of the Mettur Dam, he said water had been released on June 12 only seven times in the past 21 years. In most years, the release took place only in August or September. “If there are no surplus inflows and water is released now, tail-end farmers will not receive adequate water,” he said.

On demands from some political parties to reconsider the government’s gold ring scheme, Mr. Sengottaiyan said the scheme had been included in the party’s election manifesto before it came to power and that the government would adhere to its commitment.