Union Minister Piyush Goyal Questions Actor Vijay's Political Acumen
In a sharp critique of actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal stated on Friday that the popular film star is "out of touch with reality" and lacks a deep understanding of Tamil Nadu's politics, culture, and public sentiment. Goyal, who also serves as the BJP's election in-charge for Tamil Nadu, made these remarks while addressing reporters in Tirupur following a meeting with local industrialists.
Electoral Success Requires Grassroots Work, Says Goyal
Goyal emphasized that while Vijay enjoys significant popularity as a film star, electoral success demands dedicated work from the grassroots level. He pointed to the recent track record of film personalities in politics, noting that many have not achieved substantial success, and predicted a similar outcome for Vijay. The minister expressed confidence that the AIADMK-BJP alliance will form the government in Tamil Nadu after the upcoming assembly election on April 23.
"TVK may split votes but is unlikely to win more than a few seats, as people do not get swayed by film personalities alone," Goyal asserted, highlighting his belief in the alliance's strength and the electorate's discernment.
Tirupur's Remarkable Growth and National Textile Vision
Earlier in the day, Goyal held a comprehensive meeting with representatives from over 50 industry associations, where he praised Tirupur's extraordinary economic transformation. He revealed that exports from Tirupur have skyrocketed from a modest ₹15 crore in 1985 to approximately ₹30,000 crore today, with total trade now reaching an impressive ₹50,000 crore. The city is a major employment hub, generating jobs for nearly 10 lakh people both directly and indirectly.
Ambitious Plans for India's Textile Sector
Building on this success, Goyal outlined the Centre's ambitious vision to boost India's textile exports to $100 billion by 2030. A key strategy involves replicating the Tirupur model by developing 75 similar textile hubs across the nation. This initiative aims to foster regional economic growth and enhance India's global competitiveness in the textile industry.
The minister assured industrialists that the government is taking proactive steps to address critical challenges, including stabilizing rising cotton prices and mitigating labour shortages. He stressed the urgent need for skill development programs to bridge workforce gaps and encouraged Tirupur's business leaders to build global brands with government support.
Market Access and Policy Support
Goyal also highlighted ongoing discussions with 24 countries for improved market access, targeting regions such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Eurasia, and Israel. In a significant policy update, he mentioned that the MSME definition has been expanded to exclude export turnover, a move designed to encourage growth and support small and medium enterprises in scaling their operations.
K M Subramanian, President of the Tirupur Exporters' Association, confirmed that the minister had assured full government support to the industries in Tirupur whenever needed, reinforcing the collaborative approach between the public and private sectors.
