All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday questioned Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay over the delay in launching the Special Singapen Task Force (SSTF), a key promise in the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) poll aimed at promoting women’s safety, and asked him why he canceled the initiative at the last minute even though it was scheduled to be launched last week.
Reacting to Vijay’s statement at a public gathering on Monday that the Tamil Nadu task force would be launched “next week”, Palaniswami questioned whether women in Tamil Nadu should remain unprotected until the government officially inaugurates the unit.
In a social media post, the AIADMK leader said: “He (PM) says he will launch the special task force in Singapore next week. While all the arrangements were ready last week, why did you cancel it at the last minute?”
“Should women in Tamil Nadu remain insecure until she launches it next week? Before she finishes a six-month crash course on how to run a government, should people keep dying? And no one should even question that?” he asked.
The ruling TVK party had promised in its election manifesto that it would establish the SSTF soon after coming to power. After the party’s victory, the government issued an order stating that the special unit would work directly under the supervision of the Prime Minister.
At his first public rally after assuming office, held in eastern Tiruchirappalli on June 1 to thank voters, Vijay said that “competent” police officers had been appointed to the task force and it would be formally inaugurated next week.
Palaniswami also cited a media report on the arrest of two TVK employees in connection with an alleged gang rape case near Tuticorin and questioned the government’s handling of law and order.
“How many ruling party functionaries have been arrested for heinous criminal acts in the past three weeks?” he asked.
“How can someone who lacks the ability to keep his party members in check as a party leader run the police department? How will he ensure the safety of women?” Palaniswami said.
He urged the Prime Minister to “come out of his fantasy world” and stop behaving like a movie hero making diatribes. Reminding Vijay of the responsibilities of his office, Palaniswami asked the Chief Minister to face reality and fulfill his fundamental obligation of maintaining law and order in the state.
