Udhayanidhi Stalin Condemns Child Murder, Warns Vijay Government of Protests

CHENNAI — Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday condemned the sexual assault and murder of a three-year-old girl near Gummidipoondi, slamming the Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay-led government over a series of law and order failures, including a recent incident in the Alandur locality of Chennai.

Expressing shock over the child's death after she was sexually assaulted and abandoned in a bush, Stalin demanded that the police immediately identify the "real culprits" and ensure they receive stringent punishment. He warned that his party, the DMK, would launch state-wide street protests across Tamil Nadu if the government fails to secure public safety.

Stalin accused Chief Minister Vijay of failing to protect women and children, claiming the Chief Minister had used children as a "tool" to seek votes during the election campaign but was now repeatedly failing to ensure their safety. He referred to the current administration as a "Sofa Model govt" under which crimes have become a daily occurrence.

To highlight the deteriorating law and order situation, Stalin cited several recent cases across the state. These included an alleged case involving a ruling party functionary and a widowed woman in Alandur, the alleged sexual harassment of more than 50 women in Salem by an individual linked to the ruling party, and a sexual harassment complaint filed by a woman police officer in Sivaganga.

According to Stalin, the government has failed to take concrete steps to restore law and order despite being in office for more than a month. He alleged that the state's security apparatus is currently on a ventilator, accusing the ruling dispensation of spending its time trying to "purchase" members of other political parties rather than focusing on public safety.

Demanding immediate intervention to address these issues, Stalin urged the Chief Minister to convene a high-level meeting of senior police officers. He stated that the government must issue strict instructions to zonal and district-level officials to prevent crimes. He reiterated that the DMK would not hesitate to mobilize the public and launch protests across Tamil Nadu if such incidents continue.