Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai has accused the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government of inaction against rampant mineral smuggling, spotlighting the recent seizure of two trucks allegedly smuggling minerals to Kerala.
In a scathing post on X, Annamalai claimed, “Since the DMK came to power, Tamil Nadu has been looted for its mineral resources. This illegal operation is being carried out solely by DMK members, depriving the state of its valuable resources and causing a shortage of construction materials. As a result, people are forced to pay higher prices for these materials.”
He alleged that DMK members are exploiting Tamil Nadu’s resources for profit, with the government turning a blind eye, particularly in border districts like Coimbatore, Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, and Tenkasi. Annamalai demanded accountability, questioning when authorities would act against the culprits, including the truck owners involved.
This follows his earlier accusations that the DMK relies on “illegal mineral theft gangs” to fund its 2026 Assembly election campaign, pointing to escalated smuggling since the party took power. He highlighted two gangs in Pudukkottai and Karur allegedly driving illegal mining and cross-border smuggling to Kerala. Annamalai also tied the January 17, 2025, murder of activist K. Jagaber Ali—killed by a tipper lorry in Pudukkottai—to the DMK’s negligence, calling it evidence of a “disaster model” government. Five suspects are in custody, with the Crime Branch probing the case, amid fears among activists over threats from illegal operators.
Activists, citing Tamil Nadu’s 12,000 stone quarries—many illegally exceeding the 60-foot depth limit—have demanded state control of quarries, estimating Rs 1 lakh crore in potential revenue against the current Rs 1,835 crore. Following Ali’s death, the Federation of Environmental Activists sought Rs 1 crore compensation for his family and urged stringent action in Pudukkottai.
N. Shanmugham, an anti-quarrying movement coordinator, criticized the government, stating, “We put our lives at risk to protect the environment… but the authorities often fail to take timely action.” Pressure mounts for decisive intervention to curb smuggling and safeguard activists.