Tungsten mining: Will meet Union Minister in Delhi on Dec. 12, says Annamalai

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president K. Annamalai on Tuesday (December 10, 2024) said he, along with Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan, would meet Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy on December 12 in New Delhi and speak to him about the proposed tungsten mining project in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, which has triggered protests by farmers in the region. 

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president K. Annamalai on Tuesday (December 10, 2024) said he, along with Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan, would meet Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy on December 12 in New Delhi and speak to him about the proposed tungsten mining project in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, which has triggered protests by farmers in the region. 

Mr. Annamalai exuded confidence that he would return to Tamil Nadu with a “positive decision” after the meeting, and added that the Union government, which had always paid heed to the grievances of farmers, would do so this time too.

Speaking to reporters at the Tiruchi International Airport, Mr. Annamalai accused the DMK government and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin of enacting a “drama” on the tungsten mining project, following protests by farmers for nearly a month.

BJP members, led by Mr. Annamalai, had met the farmers on December 1 and assured them that the Centre would not indulge in any action that would affect them adversely, Mr. Annamalai said. He added that Mr. Stalin had stated in the Assembly that he would not remain in the post of Chief Minister if the Centre were to implement the project. “If the Chief Minister were to resign for issues harming the State, then he should first resign over TASMAC liquor outlets,” Mr. Annamalai said. 

He claimed that TASMAC liquor had “snatched” the “thali” of many women. On the one hand, the Chief Minister’s own party members were running liquor factories in Tamil Nadu, and on the other, his government was operating TASMAC outlets that were harming the people of the State, Mr. Annamalai alleged.

Responding to a query, Mr. Annamalai alleged that the hands of the police force were tied by the ruling DMK government, and as a result, “rowdy elements” were not afraid of the police and “drug culture” was prevalent in the State.

Mr. Annamalai, while replying to another query, said the State government was implementing many schemes through which training for hair dressing, using iron box, and tailoring were being imparted, besides imparting training for wards of fishermen.