DMK Walks Out of Tamil Nadu Assembly Over Drug Abuse and Law and Order

The Tamil Nadu Assembly in Chennai witnessed intense ruckus on Monday over drug abuse and related crimes across the state, culminating in a walkout by opposition DMK members after heated exchanges with the ruling TVK.

The confrontation began as discussions shifted to accusations of corruption, the handling of narcotics under the previous DMK regime, and current enforcement measures by the TVK administration. DMK legislators walked out of the House, alleging that ministers failed to adequately answer the questions raised by the opposition.

Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin expressed serious concern over a sharp increase in violent crimes and a deteriorating law and order situation over the past week. He highlighted the murder of a 19-year-old engineering student in Coimbatore, alleging that police had leaked information provided by the student about drug peddlers directly to criminals. He also cited the killing of a student in Thiruvottiyur in Chennai, a double murder in Palladam, the murder of two youths near Kancheepuram, and the stabbing of a female police head constable in Gudiyatham.

Udhayanidhi criticised the government's drug-free Tamil Nadu campaign and raised concerns over sexual assault cases in Tuticorin and Ranipet districts. He demanded stricter policing, higher accountability, and counselling sessions in educational institutions to curb violence.

Responding to the charges, State Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar detailed the events surrounding the Coimbatore student's death and maintained that the ruling administration is taking stringent action against narcotics. He contrasted their approach with the previous regime's handling of the Jaffer Sadiq case, triggering a sharp verbal clash between him and Udhayanidhi.

Human Resources Management Minister D Sarathkumar rejected allegations concerning conduct at a cricket stadium, stating he had already clarified the matter, and raised questions regarding an alleged Rs 88 crore recruitment scam during the DMK rule.

Public Works and Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna defended the government's record, noting that the administration established the Anti-Narcotics Task Force upon taking office, allocating over Rs 264 crore and setting up 65 units across the state. He also cited police data showing an increase in POCSO cases between 2020 and 2024 to question the opposition's past performance.

Speaker J C D Prabhakar intervened multiple times throughout the heated debate to restore order and urged both sides to adhere to assembly procedures.