TN Assembly witnesses ruckus over drugs, DMK walks out

On Monday, the Tamil Nadu Assembly experienced a disturbance over drug abuse and related crimes in the state, leading to contentious exchanges between members of the ruling TVK and opposition DMK. The opposition walked out, claiming ministers did not adequately address their concerns. Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin expressed worry about the rise in violent crimes and deteriorating law and order in the state, citing incidents like the brutal murder of a 19-year-old engineering student in Coimbatore.

He accused the police of sharing information provided by the student with criminals, resulting in his death. Stalin also highlighted sexual assault cases involving ruling party members in Tuticorin and Ranipet districts, demanding immediate action to control crime, enhance police accountability, and introduce counseling sessions in educational institutions.

State Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar provided an account of the student's death, stating the ruling party is taking strict action against drug-related crimes, contrasting it with the previous administration's handling of the Jaffer Sadiq case. The session turned into a verbal clash between opposition members and Kumar, with the opposition accusing the government of failing to act on drug-related issues involving party members.

Ruling party members dismissed Stalin's claim as baseless, emphasizing their actions against officials accused of wrongdoing within their party. The debate intensified as the ruling party mentioned the Jaffer Sadiq drug trafficking case, alleging opposition parties were protecting those involved. Human Resources Management Minister D Sarathkumar questioned a ₹88 crore corruption scandal during the previous DMK rule and highlighted the government's proactive measures against drug trafficking, including establishing the Anti-Narcotics Task Force with over ₹264 crore and 65 units.

Minister Aadhav Arjuna criticized the opposition for interrupting his speech, arguing that he should present facts about the state's efforts and historical data on the rise of drug-related issues. The Speaker Prabhakar continually intervened to maintain order, urging both parties to follow proper procedures.