The latest outrage followed a brutal attack near Coimbatore International Airport, where a college student was abducted and gang-raped by three men. Palaniswami pointedly questioned the existence and efficacy of the Tamil Nadu police, stating, “Is there even a police force in Tamil Nadu?”
The AIADMK leader recalled that under his administration, Tamil Nadu ranked first in India in terms of women’s safety, with cities like Chennai and Coimbatore known for secure living environments for women.
He lamented that the current DMK government had returned the state to a situation where women must fend for themselves.
Palaniswami highlighted a recent initiative where self-defense tools like pepper spray and torches were distributed to women, an effort started under his leadership and continued by his party workers as a response to rising violence.
Palaniswami demanded that the culprits responsible for the Coimbatore assault be found and punished swiftly. He also held Chief Minister Stalin accountable for the deteriorating law and order situation, asserting that the government’s failure had led to an unsafe environment.
The opposition leader’s remarks have intensified the political debate over governance and public security in Tamil Nadu, ahead of the next assembly elections.