Chennai: DMK president M K Stalin on Friday accused the C Joseph Vijay-led TVK govt of failing to maintain law and order, citing murders and cases of missing children.After DMK women’s wing announced a statewide protest on Oct 31, minister C T R Nirmal Kumar rebutted the DMK chief has no moral rights to criticise the govt.In a post on X, Stalin referred to a public murderin Salem, the recovery of a missing boy’s body in Madurai and a girl who remained untraced in Gingee. He questioned Vijay’s silence on the incidents, recalling that the TVK leader had frequently raised concerns over law and order before coming to power.“Crimes in Tamil Nadu are increasing to a level that surpasses video games and horror films,” Stalin said, alleging that criminals had a free run under the TVK govt.DMK deputy general secretary and Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi also accused the govt of failing to protect women and children. She alleged that crimes against them were rising and that the govt was shielding ruling-party functionaries accused of these offences.Referring to the govt’s ‘Thaimaaman Seer’ scheme, Kanimozhi said, “Thaimaaman is missing. Where is he sleeping? Has he disappeared?” She cited the alleged sexual assault of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl at Thalamkuppam in Ennore, alleging a TVK functionary is involved in the crime and he had intimidated the girl’s neighbours. The child had undergone two surgeries, Kanimozhi said.Kanimozhi also raised the case of a girl who went missing in Gingee and that of a one-year-old child reported missing in Ranipet. Recalling Vijay’s earlier criticism of the state’s law and order situation, she said, “Now, DMK and its leader M K Stalin are asking the same question: Is this a state or a lawless forest?”DMK women’s wing led by Kanimozhi will stage protests across TN on Oct 31 demanding safety of women and children, and action against criminals.Minister C T R Nirmal Kumar hit back at Stalin, saying the previous DMK regime was marked by malpractices. On the missing girl in Gingee, Nirmal Kumar said DGP is reviewing the investigation daily.
