After putting several projects on hold and scrapping others, the Joseph Vijay-led TVK government now finds itself in an embarrassing position over an existing industrial unit.
A TVK MLA demanded the closure of JK Tyres in Ranipet on the floor of the Assembly, alleging that the company is causing severe environmental damage. Industries Minister Keerthana then responded to the demand in the Assembly as though there was, in fact, a JK Tyres manufacturing unit in Ranipet.
There is just one problem.
There is no JK Tyres manufacturing plant in Ranipet.
Speaking in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Ranipet MLA Tahira alleged that the JK Tyres plant was operating through the night and causing severe environmental damage.
She demanded that the company be shut down under the TVK government.
“The JK Tyres plant in Ranipet operates through the night, causing severe environmental damage during the day… That company must be shut down under our government; we do not need it.”
ராணிப்பேட்டையில் JK டயர்ஸ் ஆலையை இழுத்து மூட வேண்டும் என சட்டப் பேரவையில் தவெக எம்.எல்.ஏ கோரிக்கை#SunNews | #Ranipet | #TNAssembly | #TVK pic.twitter.com/jecCEmxFzo
— Sun News (@sunnewstamil) September 3, 2026
The statement itself is extraordinary. But what followed was even more troubling.
Instead of correcting the MLA or clarifying which establishment she was referring to, Industries Minister Keerthana responded by discussing the supposed need to balance employment with environmental concerns.
“The MLA has called for the closure of JK Tyres. While we must certainly provide jobs for the youth and ensure companies operate here, I wish to state that we will take measures to ensure environmental protection and implement necessary legal amendments to ensure the company continues to operate in Tamil Nadu.”
Few minutes later, Industries minister S Keerthana gets up and says the factory will be asked to curb pollution, but such industries and factories are required to provide employment to the youth. https://t.co/OpWd5acZ7L pic.twitter.com/gbuXTzUxCw
— Kannan Jeevanantham (JK) (@Im_kannanj) September 3, 2026
The Minister’s response effectively gave legitimacy to the premise that JK Tyres has a manufacturing operation in Ranipet.
It does not.
JK Tyres’ own list of manufacturing locations identifies its Tamil Nadu manufacturing facility as the Chennai Tyre Plant, located at Kolathur Village on the Sriperumbudur-Tambaram Road in Kancheepuram district.
Its other manufacturing facilities are in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttarakhand.
Ranipet does not figure in the company’s list of manufacturing locations.
So, what exactly was the MLA demanding that the government shut down?
Further checking points to a much smaller establishment: a JK Tyres outlet in the area that appears to be a tyre-retreading and service facility, rather than a JK Tyres manufacturing plant.
It’s near her house, so she doesn’t want it. It’s a very personal matter but she raised it in the TamilNadu Assembly. Many of Vijay’s fan association members aren’t well educated…..some have simply made money through black market activities and run fan associations. pic.twitter.com/tbOYKCHzpZ
— An angry commoner (@AnCommoner) September 3, 2026
In other words, a local establishment appears to have been mistaken for a manufacturing unit and presented as an industrial polluter on the floor of the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
And the Industries Minister’s response only makes the episode more embarrassing.
Instead of knowing what facility the MLA was referring to, the Minister responded as though Ranipet actually had a JK Tyres manufacturing plant.
This was not the government “playing along.” It was worse: the Industries Minister appeared to be completely unaware of the basic facts surrounding the company she was discussing.
A company was being discussed in the Assembly. Its closure was being demanded. Environmental violations were being alleged. And the Minister responsible for industries was responding to it — without apparently knowing whether the company even had a manufacturing plant at the location in question.
For a government that claims to want Tamil Nadu to remain an attractive destination for industry, that is an astonishing level of ignorance.
JK Tyres should ideally sue the TVK government especially Minister Keerthana and MLA Tahira for spreading false information and defamation.
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
