CHENNAI: DMK president M K Stalin on Friday launched a scathing attack on the TVK government over the deteriorating law and order situation, accusing Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay of failing to rein in party functionaries and allowing criminals to operate without fear. Describing the DMK women’s wing’s protest on Saturday as a “wake-up call” for the government, he said it was time to teach a lesson to an administration that did not know how to govern.In a video message urging party cadres to join the protest, Stalin accused the government of neither exercising its own judgement nor heeding sound advice. Taking a swipe at Vijay’s transition from cinema to politics, he said people were suffering because some had assumed that a film hero would be equally capable in real life.Citing a series of crimes against women and children, murders and killings in broad daylight in Chennai and other parts of the state, Stalin alleged that criminals had no fear of the law. Referring to sexual assault cases involving ruling party functionaries, he said women needed protection not only from criminals but also from TVK members. He claimed that crime rates would fall drastically if Vijay reined in his party functionaries.Stalin also criticised the government over rising prices, saying poor people were now struggling to afford even rice. Despite repeated protests by opposition parties, the government had failed to respond and was instead selling polished ration rice to the public, he alleged.Questioning whether TVK functionary ‘Meth’ Boopalan, who was arrested in connection with a major drug network, had funded the party’s election campaign, Stalin alleged that the network had turned Tamil Nadu into a hub for international methamphetamine supplies. He also accused a TVK district secretary of threatening media personnel for reporting on the issue.Taking a dig at Vijay’s claim that he was a brother and uncle to every family in the state, Stalin said the chief minister should first prove his ability to govern and prevent Tamil Nadu from going into reverse gear.
