AIADMK Chief Palaniswami Lambasts Stalin's Development Drive Amid Fiscal Woes
As Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin continues his statewide tour, inaugurating and laying foundation stones for numerous development initiatives, opposition leader and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has launched a scathing attack on the ruling DMK government. Palaniswami has accused Stalin of recklessly launching projects worth several thousand crores of rupees without having adequate funds in the state treasury to support them.
Financial Distress and Mounting Debt Allegations
In a strongly worded statement released on Saturday, the former chief minister alleged that over the past 56 months, the DMK administration has pushed Tamil Nadu into severe financial distress. He claimed the state has been transformed into "one of the leading loan-dependent states in the country" due to poor fiscal management. Palaniswami expressed astonishment that despite this precarious financial situation, Stalin is "moving from district to district, unveiling high-value projects at a time when the state exchequer is running dry."
Law and Order Breakdown and Recent Crimes
The AIADMK leader also targeted the DMK government over what he termed a "systemic breakdown of law and order" across Tamil Nadu. He pointed to the recent sexual assault of a young girl inside an educational institution as a glaring example, alleging that the accused individuals had connections with the ruling DMK and were "operating without fear of police action."
Palaniswami further referenced the tragic murder of a guest worker couple and their child in Chennai, stating that this incident exposed the DMK regime's "inability to ensure public safety." He asserted that criminal elements are feeling emboldened because the government has failed to enforce strict policing, thereby creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among citizens.
Drug Menace and Eroding Public Confidence
Expanding his critique, Palaniswami alleged that drugs and contraband substances are now freely available even in remote villages, turning Tamil Nadu into "a haven for criminal and anti-social elements." He warned that public confidence in the government's ability to protect them is gradually declining due to these pervasive security and governance failures.
Praise for Modi's EU Trade Deal and Election Confidence
Earlier on Saturday, Palaniswami took to social media to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for signing what he described as a "historic" trade agreement with the European Union. He revealed that industrial representatives from key textile and manufacturing hubs like Erode, Tirupur, and Coimbatore had contacted him to express optimism about the long-term benefits of this pact.
Reiterating his party's political stance, Palaniswami confidently stated that the AIADMK would emerge victorious in the upcoming assembly elections. He promised that his party would ensure the benefits of the EU trade agreement reach industries across Tamil Nadu, fostering economic growth and job creation.
