Two Weeks In, Vijay Govt Under Fire Over Women’s Safety, Law And Order
Two Weeks In, Vijay Govt Under Fire Over Women’s Safety, Law And Order Published By, Last Updated: May 26, 2026, 13:55 IST Facing sustained attacks
Two Weeks In, Vijay Govt Under Fire Over Women’s Safety, Law And Order Published By, Last Updated: May 26, 2026, 13:55 IST Facing sustained attacks, Chief Minister Vijay pointed to a recent fast-tracked POCSO case in Thoothukudi to defend his government’s response. Rapid Read Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai accused the Vijay-led government of failing to address the worsening situation. (PTI/File) Just over two weeks after the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government assumed office in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is facing mounting criticism over law and order following two crimes involving minors. The murder of a 17-year-old boy near the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai and the rape-cum-murder of a 10-year-old girl in Coimbatore have triggered sharp attacks from opposition leaders, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party. The controversy intensified after Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Keerthana declined to answer questions about the Coimbatore case during an interaction with reporters following an official meeting. A separate video showing police officials smiling moments before a press briefing on the case also drew criticism online. Opposition Attack Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai accused the Vijay-led government of failing to address the worsening situation. “Drug peddlers, sexual assaulters, and murderers have a free pass in Tamil Nadu. The State police seem to have learnt no lessons from the past, and the new TVK government is yet to emerge from its celebratory mode and confront the grim realities unfolding on the ground," Annamalai posted on X.
His remarks came after 17-year-old A Gubendran was allegedly stabbed to death by a five-member gang at a shopping complex near the Meenakshi temple in Madurai on Monday. Earlier, on May 22, Annamalai had also criticised the government over the rape and murder of the 10-year-old girl near Sulur in Coimbatore district. “It is deeply concerning that the same unsafe environment for women and children that prevailed during the previous DMK regime continues even now. The TVK government has been in power for about two weeks. Amid the inauguration festivities, Chief Minister Thiru Vijay must remember that he is in a situation where he needs to immediately take stringent measures for the protection of women and children," he wrote on X. Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin also targeted Vijay over the recent incidents. “Respected Chief Minister Sir, Is this Tamil Nadu, or Uttar Pradesh?" Udhayanidhi asked in a post on X, while accusing the government of remaining silent despite repeated crimes. “Under the rule of those who spoke about change, Tamil Nadu’s law and order situation has deteriorated. After the murder of a girl in Sulur, there has now been a sexual assault of a girl in Villupuram district. The body of the Sulur girl was cremated without informing her mother. A boy was murdered near a temple in Madurai, and a petrol bomb was hurled at the house of a woman in Coimbatore," he posted.
Palaniswami Highlights Women’s Safety Edappadi K Palaniswami also questioned the government’s handling of women’s safety. “Is the current Vijay’s government another DMK government in destroying women’s safety? Where is the safety for women and girl children in Tamil Nadu?" he said. Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran accused Vijay of remaining passive despite rising crimes against children. “Whichever children Joseph Vijay incited by urging their parents to cast votes for him, whichever children he manipulated by delivering sentimental lines like “I am your uncle", it is a perverse trait that he finds amusement in watching those very children get ensnared daily by sexual predators and torn apart," Nagendran posted on X. The row deepened after BJP leader Vinoj P Selvam criticised Minister Keerthana’s reaction to questions on the Coimbatore case. “We have a woman minister who was all smiles when asked about this tragic murder of a 10-year-old child. She said she would only take questions on administrative matters and laughed it off," Selvam alleged. Another viral video showed senior police officer RV Ramya Bharathi smiling and gesturing moments before a press conference on the murder case, sparking fresh criticism over the sensitivity of officials handling crimes against minors. Facing sustained attacks, Chief Minister Vijay pointed to a recent fast-tracked POCSO case in Thoothukudi to defend his government’s response. The case involved the alleged rape and murder of a Class 12 student in Vilathikulam in March.
On Tuesday, the Thoothukudi District POCSO Court awarded double death sentences to the accused, Dharma Muniswaran, after an expedited trial. Sharing details of the verdict on X, Vijay said 71 witnesses had been examined during the investigation and described the judgment as proof of swift justice. “Justice has been delivered at an unprecedented speed within three months of this heinous incident," he wrote, adding that the verdict was “commendable" and reinforced the state’s commitment to protecting women and children. The recent incidents have emerged as the first major governance challenge for Vijay after the TVK’s sweeping debut election victory, with opposition parties intensifying pressure on the government over law and order and women’s safety. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: May 26, 2026, 13:55 IST News india Two Weeks In, Vijay Govt Under Fire Over Women’s Safety, Law And Order Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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