DMK Rebuts Edappadi’s Claims on Women’s Safety, Calls Them Misleading

Several opposition leaders, including AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, have come under fire from the DMK for allegedly misrepresenting the state of women’s safety in Tamil Nadu through what the ruling party calls “false propaganda.”

DMK Organisation Secretary R S Bharathi issued a strongly worded statement on Saturday condemning what he described as deliberate attempts by opposition parties to politicize isolated crime incidents and create a misleading narrative about women’s safety across the state.

“The opposition has developed a pattern of jumping to conclusions before facts are established, especially in cases involving women and children,” Bharathi said in his statement. He specifically criticized Palaniswami for hastily issuing public statements on recent incidents in Coimbatore and Chennai without waiting for complete investigations.

The DMK leader highlighted two recent cases that he claims were misrepresented by opposition figures. In the Coimbatore incident, what was initially reported as a potential kidnapping case and quickly seized upon by opposition leaders was later determined to be a family dispute after police investigation.

Similarly, in Chennai’s Kannagi Nagar, when a Class 6 girl was reported missing, opposition leaders allegedly used the incident to criticize the government’s handling of women’s safety. However, Bharathi pointed out that police efficiently traced and safely returned the child to her family within hours.

“These examples clearly demonstrate how opposition leaders are attempting to manufacture a crisis where none exists,” Bharathi stated. “Their eagerness to politicize every incident before knowing the full facts is both irresponsible and potentially harmful to public trust in institutions.”

The dispute highlights the increasingly contentious political environment in Tamil Nadu, where women’s safety has become a major campaign issue. The state has traditionally performed better than the national average on crime statistics against women, according to National Crime Records Bureau data, though both ruling and opposition parties have used the issue to score political points.

Tamil Nadu’s political landscape has seen heightened tension between the ruling DMK and opposition AIADMK since the 2021 Assembly elections when the DMK, led by M K Stalin, returned to power after a decade. The AIADMK, under Palaniswami’s leadership, has been vocal in its criticism of the DMK government on various fronts, including law and order.

In his statement, Bharathi emphasized that the DMK government under Chief Minister M K Stalin has prioritized women’s welfare through various schemes and would not compromise on their safety under any circumstances. The government has implemented several initiatives focused on women’s safety, including increased police patrolling, helplines, and awareness programs across the state.

Law enforcement officials in Tamil Nadu have urged political leaders to exercise restraint when commenting on ongoing investigations, noting that premature statements can hamper police work and unnecessarily alarm the public.

Political analysts note that this back-and-forth over crime statistics and women’s safety is likely to intensify as the state moves closer to the next election cycle. Public perception of safety issues often influences voting patterns, particularly among women voters who constitute nearly half of the state’s electorate.

The DMK’s strong response suggests the ruling party is sensitive to allegations regarding law and order, considering it a core governance issue that could impact its electoral prospects if public perception turns negative.