Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Oct 31: DMK president and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin has announced a statewide protest by the party's Women's Wing on October 31, accusing the C Joseph Vijay-led TVK government of failing to maintain law and order and control rising prices.
In a self-recorded video and a post on social media platform X, Stalin described the government as directionless and accused it of lacking independent thinking. He said protests would be held at district headquarters across Tamil Nadu to serve as a wake-up call for the ruling administration.
Taking a dig at Chief Minister Vijay, Stalin said people had voted for him expecting his on-screen heroism to translate into real-life leadership but had been disappointed. He alleged that Vijay remained inaccessible to the public and appeared to be treating the chief minister's office like a regular 9-to-5 job, rather than taking responsibility for the state.
Raising concerns over public safety, Stalin alleged that law and order had deteriorated under the TVK government. He referred to daylight murders in prominent areas of Chennai, sexual violence against children and the escape of 17 prisoners from the Theni district jail in a single night.
Stalin further claimed that nearly 50 per cent of recent crimes involved TVK functionaries. Citing the arrest of a TVK office-bearer by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) over alleged links to an international synthetic drug syndicate, he questioned whether proceeds from drug trafficking had been used to finance the ruling party's election campaign.
The DMK leader also criticised the government over the rising prices of essential commodities, including rice and onions. He accused the administration of failing to plan adequately for the state's electricity requirements and alleged that power was being purchased at an exorbitant rate of Rs 37 per unit.
Responding to Minister Viswanathan's allegations that the previous DMK government was responsible for the current power shortage and had caused a loss of Rs 6,000 crore in the Rs 13,000-crore Thoothukudi project, Stalin rejected the charges.
Comparing the ruling party to a cat that closes its eyes and assumes the entire world has become dark, he said the government's changing explanations reflected its own mismanagement and amounted to an admission of guilt.
Earlier, speaking to reporters in Madurai after paying tribute at the memorial of freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar, Stalin recalled the contributions made by the DMK government to honour the leader. He said the party continued to draw inspiration from Thevar's fearless fighting spirit.
Stalin reiterated his criticism of the TVK government over rising prices, deteriorating law and order and public safety, claiming that people were increasingly dissatisfied with its functioning.
Asked about the possibility of the DMK supporting Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief Seeman, who announced on October 29 that he would contest the Ambasamudaram by-election, Stalin said the party would take a decision after the election schedule was announced.
Later, speaking to reporters at Chennai airport, Stalin described the arrest of a former DMK minister as an act of political vendetta. He asserted that the party would not be intimidated by police action and would challenge the allegations through legal proceedings.
Pointing out that the DMK had faced stringent laws, including the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), in the past, he dismissed concerns about the party's ability to withstand the latest developments.
"Wait and watch as time goes on; you will see how it holds up," Stalin said.