Maduranthakam (Tamil Nadu), Sept 27 Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sunday alleged that police registered a false case of “snake bite” to cover up the sexual assault of a schoolgirl in Vandalur to avoid embarrassment ahead of the Chief Minister’s election campaign visit.
Addressing a public rally to campaign for DMK candidate I Paranthamen in the Maduranthakam Assembly by-election, the DMK leader launched a sharp attack against the state administration, alleging a complete breakdown of law and order and widespread apathy toward women’s safety.
“There is no safety for women anywhere. Just two days ago, a schoolgirl was sexually assaulted in Vandalur. Citing Chief Minister’s visit to the area for election campaigning, police refused to accept the complaint from the student’s parents and registered a false complaint claiming it was a snake bite,” Udhayanidhi said.
Highlighting another incident in Maduranthakam, he alleged that a differently-abled Class 5 student was gang-raped by a group when left alone at home.
He questioned the status of the state government’s announced ‘Singappen Padai’ women’s police unit, claiming the special force had remained purely on paper without any field deployment over the past four months.
Ridiculing the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, Udhayanidhi claimed the cabinet lacked basic administrative diligence.
He cited a debate where an MLA flagged heavy smoke from a tyre-burning unit in Ranipet, following which the Environment Minister pledged on the floor of the House that he and the Chief Minister would inspect and shut down the factory.
A subsequent verification revealed the establishment was merely a bicycle puncture repair shop, on which the Assembly had spent nearly an hour debating, Udhayanidhi said.
Udhayanidhi also took aim at the Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay regarding the police grants debate, stating he had spoken for 32 minutes and posed 16 pointed questions on murders in Coimbatore and narcotics trafficking involving ruling party functionaries.
He alleged that the CM evaded an immediate response, and said he would answer on Monday, and walked out of the House.
The LoP further took a swipe at a cabinet minister for allegedly sitting and applying face powder at an IPL match instead of addressing administrative concerns.
Pointing to severe power cuts across the state, including in the Chief Minister’s constituency and Perambur where residents have staged street protests, Udhayanidhi urged voters to back the DMK’s ‘Rising Sun’ symbol on polling day on the 6th to elect Paranthaman by a decisive margin.
(PTI News)
