DMK announces statewide protests against TVK government on Oct 31
The DMK Women's Wing will stage protests across district headquarters over alleged law and order failures, rising prices, and power shortages in Tamil Nadu
Chennai, Oct 30 (PTI) DMK President and former chief minister M K Stalin on Friday announced a state-wide protest by the DMK Women's Wing on October 31 to criticise the TVK government for the "deteriorating law and order situation and soaring inflation" in Tamil Nadu.
Releasing a strongly worded self-recorded video and a post on X, Stalin termed the TVK administration a "clueless" and inept government lacking independent thinking. He stated that the upcoming protests across all district headquarters would serve as a "wake-up call" to a slumbering administration.
Taking a direct dig at Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Stalin remarked that the public had voted for him hoping his cinematic heroism would translate to real life, but were left thoroughly disappointed. He accused the chief minister of remaining inaccessible to the public -- functioning as though he were still isolated in a shooting caravan -- and treating his high office like a 9-to-5 desk job.
Claiming that there is a total breakdown of law and order in the state, the DMK chief pointed to daylight murders in prime areas of Chennai, sexual violence against children, and the recent escape of 17 prisoners from the Theni district jail in a single night. He further alleged that 50 per cent of recent crimes involved TVK functionaries, specifically citing the arrest of a TVK office-bearer by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for his alleged involvement in an international synthetic drug syndicate. Stalin questioned whether such illicit drug money was used to fund the ruling party's election campaigns.
Shifting his focus to the economy and power sector, Stalin slammed the government for the steep rise in prices of essential commodities like rice and onions, and for allegedly procuring electricity at an exorbitant rate of Rs 37 per unit due to poor long-term planning.
Responding to allegations by Minister Viswanathan, who blamed the previous DMK regime for the current power shortage and alleged a Rs 6,000 crore loss in a Rs 13,000 crore Thoothukudi project, Stalin brushed off the claims. He likened the ruling party to "a cat closing its eyes and thinking the whole world has gone dark," noting that the government's varying excuses simply exposed their own mismanagement and admission of guilt.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after he paid his respects at the memorial of freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar in Madurai, Stalin recalled the DMK government's legacy in honouring Thevar and stated that the party continues to draw inspiration from his fearless fighting spirit. He then reiterated his sharp critique of the ruling government over rising prices, deteriorating law and order, and safety issues, claiming that voters are deeply frustrated.
When asked by reporters about the possibility of DMK supporting Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief Seeman, who had announced on October 29 that he will contest the Ambasamudaram by-elections, Stalin said they will decide once the election dates are announced.
Later, at Chennai airport, responding to questions from reporters on the recent arrest of a former DMK minister, Stalin dismissed the police action as a pure political vendetta. Asserting that the party is not intimidated and will face the charges legally in court, he recalled that the DMK had historically weathered draconian laws such as MISA, TADA, and POTA. He also dismissed doubts about the DMK's political resilience, stating, "Wait and watch as time goes on; you will see how it holds up". PTI