'Sofa model govt in deep sleep’: Udhayanidhi Stalin on crime surge, Singapen shelved

CHENNAI: Launching a blistering attack on the ruling TVK govt over the brutal murder and burial of a 25-year-old woman in Cuddalore, leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s “sofa model” govt has slipped into a “deep sleep mode” on law and order.

He said that since the formation of the “sofa model govt”, not a day has passed without incidents of murder, robbery or sexual assault, raising doubts among the public about the existence of an effective law enforcement machinery in the state.

“He delivered high-octane punch dialogues on law and order during the election campaign, flipping through pages of promises, but has gone into deep sleep after assuming the CM office,” Udhayanidhi said in a social media post on Friday.

He also questioned the abrupt halt to the launch of the ‘Singapen Special Force’, a flagship initiative for women’s safety that was scheduled to be inaugurated on Friday.

“People are wondering whether the initiative has been postponed or quietly dropped,” he said.

Taking the attack further, Udhayanidhi asked whether the govt’s idea of reform was limited to cosmetic changes such as renaming schemes and changing uniforms, or whether it needed more time to restore law and order.

“Does the govt intend to act against criminals or does it need an extension to figure out how to maintain basic law and order? Until then, can the state withstand, CM Sir,” he said, adding that public patience with the “sleeping” regime is wearing thin.