Minister Nirmalkumar’s claims on Parandur page are false propaganda: TN BJP

Nainar Nagenthran. File | Photo credit: B. Thamodharan

BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran on Thursday (July 9, 2026) dismissed Tamil Nadu minister R. Nirmalkumar’s claim that it would not be possible to lay a runway at Parandur locality for the new airport, saying the minister’s claims were part of “false propaganda” and were a betrayal of Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Nagenthran alleged that the TVK-led government under Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had taken steps to stall the economic development of Tamil Nadu and the employment prospects of the state’s youth by creating hurdles for the new airport proposal.

The BJP leader asked if the minister was aware of the approvals given by the Airports Authority of India and the Ministry of Defense after conducting a detailed study of the proposal and after considering the water bodies in the locality.

“When experts are recommending technical solutions to protect water bodies, even while laying a runway, why should we create a new hurdle? Is it a real technical problem or a cheap act to sacrifice the state’s development for vote bank politics,” asked Mr. Nagenthran.

Noting that any delay in the airport project, especially when the existing Chennai airport cannot be further expanded, would cost Tamil Nadu many investment opportunities, Mr. Nagenthran urged cooperation with the Union government to continue work on the Parandur airport project.

Published – 9 July 2026 13:20 IST