CHENNAI: BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran on Tuesday criticised the ruling DMK government, accusing it of systematically weakening the State’s horticulture department and undermining both farmers and government officials.

In a statement, Nainar Nagenthran said the proposed rollout of the ‘Uzhavar Aluvalar Thodarbu 2.0’ scheme was a clear attempt to dilute the specialised nature of the horticulture department. He alleged that the move would deprive small and marginal farmers of timely and expert technical guidance, which is critical for horticultural crops that require distinct scientific support.

The BJP leader charged that the DMK government, after allegedly committing irregularities amounting to Rs 141 crore in the horticulture sector, was now taking steps to erase the department’s independent identity by subsuming it under the agriculture department. “This is not administrative reform but an attempt to dismantle the horticulture department altogether,” he said, warning that such decisions would have long-term consequences for farmers dependent on crop-specific expertise.

The Tirunelveli MLA further said the proposed restructuring would directly affect the livelihood and service conditions of horticulture officers, forcing them into agitation. He accused the government of repeatedly pushing various sections of government employees, including horticulture officials, nurses and middle-school teachers, into protest through what he described as indifferent and arrogant governance.

Questioning the DMK’s claims of good governance, Nainar Nagenthran asked whether driving government employees to the streets on a daily basis could be considered a model worthy of national praise. He alleged that the ruling party’s disregard for its own workforce reflected administrative high-handedness.

“The DMK’s arrogance in power and its continued neglect of government employees will ultimately lead to its political decline,” he added.