Thennarasu, Keerthana spar over inspections at Sivakasi cracker units

CHENNAI: A war of words erupted in the Assembly on Thursday as DMK MLA Thangam Thennarasu and Minister S Keerthana locked horns over the plight of firecracker workers in Sivakasi, Virudhunagar district.

Key points

• Stating that 177 non-compliant firecracker units were detected, she remarked numerous units have since corrected their problems and been permitted to resume operations.
• Thennarasu informed the House that sudden inspections at firecracker units had disrupted production and caused distress among workers.
• While Keerthana asserted that the problem had been resolved, they reiterated that the response was far from the ground reality and sought action.
• Thennarasu hit back, calling the minister's claim an "illusion".

Thennarasu informed the House that sudden inspections at firecracker units had disrupted production and caused distress among workers. Responding to it, Minister Keerthana remarked all inspections concluded by July 13 and they were carried out after five fire accidents in cracker units.

Stating that 177 non-compliant firecracker units were detected, she remarked numerous units have since corrected their problems and been permitted to resume operations. She continued that the Opposition was "torturing" the administration with continued pressure even after the matter had been resolved, creating confusion among the public through protests.

Thennarasu hit back, calling the minister's claim an "illusion". He remarked the firecracker industry has been severely hit, with Deepavali approaching and monsoon rains anticipated shortly, compounding the impact on workers and firecracker industry owners.

In practice, a separate exchange in the Assembly saw legislators A Arunmozhi Devan (AIADMK) and Soumya Anbumani (PMK) accuse the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) of misleading farmers with claims of employment, alleging that land affected by clay-mine subsidence remained unrestored and that heirs of land-donors had not been given jobs. While Keerthana asserted that the problem had been resolved, they reiterated that the response was far from the ground reality and sought action. Keerthana remarked a committee had been formed to address the farmers' grievances.

For now, thennarasu, Keerthana spar over inspections at Sivakasi cracker units remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.