AIADMK General Secretary and former Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami, has announced that the party’s women’s wing will stage a large-scale demonstration in Chennai on September 24, to protest the increasing incidents of sexual harassment against women and minors in Tamil Nadu. Palaniswami expressed deep concern over what he described as a worsening situation, blaming the DMK government for failing to protect women across the state.
“It is regrettable that there is no safety for women, whether they are six or sixty years old,” the AIADMK leader said, accusing the DMK administration of not taking adequate measures to curb the rise in crimes against women. He highlighted that sexual harassment incidents, particularly against minors, have surged under the current regime.
Palaniswami also criticized Chief Minister MK Stalin, who holds the Police Department portfolio, for not empowering law enforcement to combat sexual violence effectively. “The police are not being given full freedom to control these crimes,” he alleged, suggesting that the lack of decisive action from the government has contributed to the escalation of such offences.
The former Chief Minister pointed to drug abuse as a key factor driving the rise in sexual harassment cases. He noted that substance abuse often leads individuals to commit various crimes, including sexual violence. Palaniswami also cited the Madras High Court’s suggestion to form a special task force to combat the drug menace, emphasizing that the state government had yet to take effective steps in this regard.
Listing several recent sexual abuse cases, Palaniswami criticized the DMK government’s handling of law and order during its 40-month rule, accusing it of failing to control crime. In response, the AIADMK women’s wing, led by former minister B Valarmathi, will organize a massive demonstration in Chennai to bring attention to these issues.
The upcoming protest, expected to draw a large crowd, undersc