All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran on 11 November launched a sharp attack on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, alleging that a string of murders in Chennai had exposed a deepening law and order crisis in the state, even as the government touted large-scale arrests of alleged criminals.

Three Murders in One Day Trigger Criticism

Citing media reports, Dhinakaran pointed to three murders reported on 10 November in the Chennai neighbourhoods of Abhiramapuram, Kasimedu, and Sembium. He noted that the killings occurred at a time when Chief Minister Vijay had reportedly issued instructions on maintaining law and order and police were said to have arrested hundreds of alleged criminals across Tamil Nadu.

Dhinakaran questioned whether the government's measures were translating into actual safety for residents, arguing that publicised arrests offered little reassurance when violent incidents continued to be reported in quick succession.

Dhinakaran's Swipe at Vijay's Film Background

Taking aim at the Chief Minister's cinematic past, Dhinakaran alleged that Vijay appeared to be monitoring the daily murder count the way a filmmaker tracks a film's daily box-office collections — as a spectator rather than an intervener. He likened the succession of violent incidents to a long-running television serial, warning that the public might eventually 'write its own climax' if the government failed to act.

He also asked whether the Chief Minister would describe the ongoing violence as an achievement of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government's first six months in office.

Cabinet Minister's Deepavali Remark Under Fire

Dhinakaran also criticised an unnamed Cabinet minister who reportedly responded to questions about murders during the Deepavali period by comparing current figures with those of previous years. He asked which year's statistics the minister would now cite to explain killings occurring on successive days, calling the comparison an inadequate and deflecting response.

Contradiction at the Heart of Policing Claims

According to Dhinakaran, reports projecting mass arrests as evidence of decisive police action were appearing alongside reports of suspected gang members being killed in Chennai — a contradiction he said had undermined public confidence in policing. He alleged that frequent stabbings, revenge attacks, and other murders had created an atmosphere of fear, leaving ordinary residents anxious about their safety.

He accused the TVK government of allowing Tamil Nadu to become increasingly violent during its first six months, arguing that protecting citizens was the government's most fundamental duty.

Call for Concrete Action Beyond Announcements

Urging Vijay to move beyond statements and publicity, Dhinakaran called for concrete, outcome-driven measures to restore law and order across the state. He said the Chief Minister must ensure that government action resulted in effective protection for people, not merely press releases about crackdowns.

The government had not responded to Dhinakaran's remarks at the time of publication. With violent incidents continuing to draw media attention, pressure on the Vijay administration to demonstrate a tangible improvement in public safety is likely to intensify in the coming weeks.