Chennai, June 15 (IANS) Tamil Nadu’s Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday urged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to convene a high-level meeting of senior police officials and issue strict directions to district and regional officers to prevent what he described as the worsening law and order situation in the state.

His remarks came in the wake of the death of a three-year-old girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted near Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district.

The incident has triggered widespread outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of women and children.

In a statement posted on social media, Udhayanidhi Stalin claimed that crimes of this nature were once associated with certain northern parts of the country but alleged that similar incidents were now occurring with alarming frequency in Tamil Nadu.

He accused the Vijay-led government of failing to provide adequate protection to women and children despite highlighting their welfare prominently during the election campaign.

The DMK leader pointed to a series of incidents that, according to him, reflected a breakdown in public safety across the state. He referred to allegations that members of the ruling party were involved in the sexual exploitation of more than 500 women in Salem, that a party functionary in Alandur had allegedly misbehaved with a widow, and that a woman police constable in Sivaganga had allegedly been subjected to sexual assault.

Udhayanidhi Stalin alleged that although more than a month had passed since the new government assumed office, no effective measures had been taken to strengthen law and order. He claimed the situation had deteriorated significantly and said public confidence in the government’s ability to maintain safety was being eroded.

Taking a swipe at the Chief Minister, he alleged that greater attention was being paid to political activities than to governance and public safety. He urged Vijay to focus on restoring law and order and ensuring that women and children are protected from such crimes.

Warning of further action, Udhayanidhi said that if similar incidents continued to occur in Tamil Nadu, he would seek permission from the DMK leadership to launch a statewide protest against the government’s handling of law and order.

The statement adds to the growing political pressure on the government following the tragic death of the child, which has sparked strong reactions from political parties and civil society groups across the state.

–IANS

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