Tamil Nadu Environment and Climate Change Minister V K Rajiv says household soaps and shampoo cause foaming in the Noyyal River, during a Tirupur visit. The comment draws public ire online and criticism from opposition figures, who argue the issue stems from wider sources of pollution.

The Hindu reports that PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss responds by saying that river foaming is caused by discharge of wastes into rivers, adding that even children know this. Times of India highlights outrage following Rajiv’s statement and includes a response from TTV Dhinakaran, who challenges the government’s focus on citizens and calls for stricter rules on industrial effluents.

Across outlets, the story centers on who is blamed for the foaming problem and whether attention should focus on household products or on industrial discharge. All accounts treat Rajiv’s comments as the trigger, with others using the remark to argue for a different understanding of the pollution source and the appropriate policy response.