The TVK Government, which has boasted of bringing in ₹1.5 lakh crore in investment for industrial development in the State, has left lakhs of workers in fireworks units in tears by crippling the century-old industry, charged Tiruchuli MLA and DMK Virudhunagar West district secretary Thangam Thennarasu.

Addressing a demonstration organised by the party here on Sunday, Mr. Thennarasu said that the State Government was crushing the fireworks industry in the name of inspection for safety rules.

“We are not questioning taking stringent action against the illegal fireworks units functioning without a licence. But the government cannot justify its action against the century-old industry by crippling its operation in the name of inspection caused by occasional accidents,” he said.

The government’s duty to protect its citizens also meant that the industry that served as a lifeline for lakhs of employees should be protected.

“Our demand to protect the industry is not to safeguard a few fireworks units, but the lakhs of employees, as the closure of units adversely impacts their livelihood,” he added.

Mr. Thennarasu said that ahead of Deepavali, this was a busy time for production in the fireworks industry. “The production can be made only when the sun shines and not when it rains. Besides, production after Deepavali will not benefit the industry,” the former Finance Minister said.

Under the TVK Government, even workers were not allowed to freely sell fireworks in the shops, he alleged.

“This is not the change for which the people have voted for the TVK,” he said.

Industries Minister S. Keerthana had promised to provide one ambulance for every fireworks unit, one fire and rescue service station for a radius of 10 km and insurance for fireworks workers.

“But, people who voted for these changes were in tears,” Mr. Thennarasu said.

The TVK had also reduced the budgetary allocation for education. The new Government had only changed the names of all welfare schemes brought by the previous DMK government, he alleged.

DMK functionaries A.R.R. Srinivasan, Vanaraja, Udhayasooriyan, Mayor I. Sangeetha and Deputy Mayor Vignesh Priya took part in the protest.

Published - August 16, 2026 08:28 pm IST