India, Oct. 20 -- Former Tamil Nadu finance minister and DMK leader Thangam Thennarasu questioned chief minister C Joseph Vijay's TVK government over its claim of lowering debt as he accused it of deliberately stalling development works. He alleged that contractor payments are being withheld to falsely project a reduced debt burden as a financial achievement.

He made the remarks in response to reports that Tamil Nadu's borrowing through government bonds fell by 21% in the first half of the current fiscal year compared to the corresponding period last year. Thennarasu questioned the government, which came in power in April this year, over its silence on underlying economic realities.

He said the TVK government is trying to present lower ...