DMK's Elangovan: Tamil Nadu police used against critics, not for law and order
Synopsis
DMK's T.K.S. Elangovan has accused the Tamil Nadu government of deploying police to silence critics — including summoning a YouTuber and his family — rather than tackling a worsening law-and-order situation, citing the stabbing of a 14-year-old in Chennai as evidence of state neglect of public safety.
Key Takeaways
DMK spokesperson T.K.S.
Elangovan on Tuesday alleged the Tamil Nadu government is misusing police against critics instead of maintaining law and order.
The remarks were triggered by the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy in Chennai .
Elangovan cited the case of YouTuber Mukhtar and his family being taken to a police station as an example of selective police action.
Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin was identified as the only political voice raising crime concerns, according to Elangovan.
DMK also reiterated its opposition to the Mekedatu dam project and urged CM Vijay to press Tamil Nadu's case with PM Modi .
DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Tamil Nadu government, alleging that the state police machinery is being misused to target critics rather than address deteriorating law and order — remarks triggered by the recent stabbing of a 14-year-old boy in Chennai.
The Core Allegation
Elangovan claimed that police resources were being diverted away from public safety duties toward suppressing dissent. 'They are engaged in other work. They are misusing the police for their personal purposes. Today I saw that Mukhtar, a YouTuber, and his family were taken to a police station. They concentrate on people who criticise them, not on the law-and-order situation. That is the trend today,' he alleged.
He further charged that police response was selective based on political proximity. 'This government is not for the people. If anything happens personally to the Chief Minister, the police take immediate action. But the police are not there for the common man. That is why such incidents are happening,' Elangovan said.
Opposition Silence and Political Context
Elangovan also took aim at what he described as a broader political silence over the Chennai stabbing incident. He alleged that had a similar crime occurred during a DMK administration, the response would have been far louder. 'If this had happened during the DMK's tenure, everybody would have raised their voice. But now everyone is silent. Only our Leader of Opposition, Udhayanidhi Stalin, is speaking about these incidents. He has listed how many crimes and murders have taken place, but nobody else speaks about it,' he added.
Notably, this criticism comes at a time when law-and-order concerns in Tamil Nadu have drawn renewed public attention following a series of reported violent incidents in Chennai.
DMK's Stand on Mekedatu Dam
On a separate issue, Elangovan reiterated the DMK's opposition to the proposed Mekedatu dam project and called on actor-politician Chief Minister Vijay to raise Tamil Nadu's concerns directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi if the two leaders meet. 'We have opposed Mekedatu. It is for CM Vijay to take action against it. If he is going to meet the Prime Minister, he should come out successfully. That is our wish,' he said.
What This Signals
The remarks reflect a sharpening of the DMK's posture as principal opposition in Tamil Nadu, with the party seeking to frame the ruling government's law-and-order record as a central electoral and governance issue. The invocation of the YouTuber Mukhtar case — where a content creator and his family were reportedly summoned to a police station — is likely to amplify concerns about press freedom and the use of state machinery against online critics. How the Tamil Nadu government responds to these allegations will be closely watched in the coming days.
Point of View
However, is any acknowledgment of its own record on police accountability during its tenures in power. The silence of other opposition parties that Elangovan flags is also telling — it suggests either political calculation or a lack of credible alternative narrative on law and order in Tamil Nadu.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did DMK's Elangovan allege about the Tamil Nadu police?
DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan alleged that the Tamil Nadu government is misusing the police to target critics and dissenters rather than maintaining public safety. He cited the summoning of YouTuber Mukhtar and his family to a police station as a recent example.
What incident triggered the DMK's attack on the Tamil Nadu government?
The immediate trigger was the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy in Chennai, which the DMK used to highlight what it described as a deteriorating law-and-order situation under the current state government.
What did Elangovan say about Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin?
Elangovan said Udhayanidhi Stalin was the only political leader speaking out about the rising crime incidents in Tamil Nadu, and that he had compiled data on crimes and murders while others remained silent.
What is the DMK's position on the Mekedatu dam project?
The DMK has opposed the proposed Mekedatu dam project and has urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay to raise the state's concerns directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi if they meet, calling for a successful outcome for Tamil Nadu.
Who is Mukhtar, mentioned in Elangovan's statement?
Mukhtar is a YouTuber whose summoning to a police station along with his family was cited by Elangovan as evidence of the Tamil Nadu government using police machinery against individuals who criticise the administration.
