Tamil Nadu minister rejects TVK MLA's call to shut JK Tyre plant over pollution

Tamil Nadu's Industries Minister Keerthana rejected a call by TVK MLA Thahira to shut down JK Tyre's Ranipet plant over pollution, stating the company will remain in the state with environmental safeguards. Former DMK minister T.R.B. Rajaa sharply criticized the closure demand. Thahira alleged the factory's nighttime emissions severely harm the daytime environment and that previous governments took no action despite local protests. Minister Keerthana responded that jobs must be provided and companies retained, while legal amendments will ensure environmental protection. Rajaa called the shutdown proposal "complete madness" on social media, arguing it sends a poor signal to industry and investors. He urged legal action to rectify pollution issues instead, expressing distress over what he termed immature remarks harming Tamil Nadu's industrial growth.