Coimbatore, March 16 (NationPress) Actress and political activist Gautami strongly criticized the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu, asserting that women in the state do not feel secure under the leadership of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

Her comments came during a Women’s Day event organized by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in Coimbatore.

While addressing the attendees, Gautami remarked that Tamil Nadu had seen a more favorable approach towards women’s welfare during the time of the late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

She emphasized that Jayalalithaa was dedicated to the upliftment and empowerment of women throughout her life, launching various initiatives aimed at enhancing their social and economic conditions.

In stark contrast, she accused the current government of viewing women merely as a “vote bank.”

Gautami asserted that the present administration has failed to provide safety and dignity for women across the state.

She expressed concern that the policies and governance style under CM Stalin lack the empathy and commitment that women rightfully expect from their government.

Highlighting the leadership of AIADMK, she commended party general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, stating that he has fought for nearly 28 months to uphold and safeguard women’s rights in Tamil Nadu.

Additionally, she noted that numerous welfare initiatives previously established by the AIADMK government have been weakened or postponed under the current regime. Gautami specifically mentioned the laptop distribution program for school students initiated during Jayalalithaa’s term.

She accused the Stalin government of only reviving this program towards the end of its term, claiming the action was motivated by electoral interests rather than genuine concern for students’ welfare.

After the event, Gautami also took issue with Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, a Member of Parliament from the DMK, regarding her response to the alleged rape and murder case in Vilathikulam.

She described Kanimozhi’s comment — that she could not provide any input until the post-mortem report was released — as lacking sensitivity and compassion for the victim and her family.

Gautami questioned why political leaders had not taken the initiative to visit the affected area to offer support or comfort to the victim’s family.

Moreover, she raised concerns over why there seems to be more urgency in addressing other incidents while the Vilathikulam case has not attracted similar attention.

Further criticizing the state government, Gautami claimed that the proliferation of narcotics has become a significant issue in Tamil Nadu, accusing the administration of not being able to tackle this problem, which she argued could adversely affect both current and future generations.

Looking forward to the upcoming Assembly elections, Gautami predicted that the contest would primarily be a direct confrontation between the DMK and AIADMK, with other political entities playing a minimal role in the electoral landscape.

aal/rad