Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay Under Fire Over Rising Crime and Loan Waiver Controversy | News18

[00:00:04]Hello and welcome to Simply South. I'm Harishupad. This is the show that gets you the flavor of South India. We are coming to you from the beautiful Vidan Sa here in Bengaluru. But our top story this week comes from the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. It's been a rough week for the TVK government and Chief Minister Joseph Vijay. On the one hand, they were talking about the debt left behind by the Tamil Nadu government, but opposition parties have been criticizing the TVK on the law and order issue.

[00:00:33]There have been multiple crimes, crimes against women and children, and the TVK government has been receiving a lot of flack for that. The opposition party also has questioned the TVK government on its latest announcement of crop loan waiver scheme as well. Well, it's just been a little over a month for this new government in Tamil Nadu, but it's already receiving a lot of flack and criticism. Let's take a look at what's panned out over the last week or so, and let's debate on what's the way forward for Vijay and his government.

[00:01:28]You can see here's being held by three JP Karikartas here.

[00:01:38]Why is the chief minister silent? Why is the chief minister not addressing this issue?

[00:01:47]>> We are seeing there's a very steep uh rise in crimes against women and specifically crimes against women uh children. Um and uh the government uh does not seem to be concerned at all.

[00:02:03]The chief minister has not spoken about it, has not said anything. It is really alarming and very shocking and the government is clueless. The government see should understand that it is not only a law and order or a problem of crime but it is also a social evil.

[00:02:23]CM has given clear direction that it is very strict action to be taken on any any issues.

[00:02:29]There is no considerations and uh already government is working very fast.

[00:02:46]>> Well, to take this debate forward, we have a eminent panel joining us on the show today. We have Mr. James Martin, who's a political analyst who's joining us on the show. We have uh another political analyst, Mr. Pulara, also joining us on the show. We also have senior journalist Mr. R. Raja Gopalan and we have EMK spokesperson Absara Reddi joining us on the show. Absurd I'll come to you first. TVK criticized the DMK said they failed on Lloyd order but what we've seen over the last month or so doesn't look like anything has changed especially on the law and order front in Tamil Nadu.

[00:03:23]It is very um alarming and it's a worrying trend. The surge of crimes against women and children in Tamil Nadu. We need a chief minister who runs the government. We don't need a government which runs the chief minister's image alone. Uh the government is very dependent on social media sloganering a lot of visible antiques. But I don't think any governance has actually taken place. If you look at it on June 15th alone, there have been three spate of there have been three crimes against children over the uh last one month. more than 20 alarming cases, alarming brutal cases of violence against children and women and the chief minister is busy meeting people from the film fraternity big industrialists who can contribute to the government but he's not consoled any of the victims families even when kar happened before elections of course he called the greed families to his house he never went to the spot that is the characteristic of the chief minister Mr. I think he needs to improve that and deliver um governance to the people. We can't have a distant CM. We have to have a CM who actually is in touch with the people.

[00:04:24]Even if you look at I'm sorry I'm deviating a little bit. Even if you look at the visuals around the chief minister and the secretariat, it's only of the chief minister eating out lunch out of a you know a packed lunch or of him meeting chess players and celebrities.

[00:04:37]Where is he meeting party? Where is he listening to the people's representatives? Where is he taking petitions from the people? Where is he meeting families that are agreved by such crimes? Where is he having meetings on law and order? What is the kind of uh instant steps he's taking on law and order? I think the the head should role when he has somebody uh in charge of law and order. He's not really taken any action even against police who are not performing. It's very alarming how the chief minister is very dependent on a cery to run the government. I don't think he's very involved in the government. Yes.

[00:05:08]>> Also, a very important point is when TVK spokespersons, when TVK social media reacts to these crimes, they're asking for time. When you sign on the dotted line and you take an oath as a chief minister, your chief minister from that moment, you can't ask for time. You can ask for time perhaps for some welfare measures to recalibrate some finances.

[00:05:26]But to deliver on law and order, you need to be chief minister from the word go. You can't say give me some time to take care of the law and order. You need to be a proactive chief minister.

[00:05:34]>> Yes.

[00:05:36]Mr. James Martin, it's been a little over a month since uh Vijay took over as the chief minister of the state. Uh as Absara is pointing out on social media, party workers are saying, "Give us some time." But 1 month is a good enough time to get some grip on the police force and ensure that their presence is felt on the ground. You've launched the Singap Singapen force, but is it really changing anything on ground?

[00:06:01]See actually it's completely changing you know for the past 10 years or even before that there was a culture of the both these parties a MK DMK how they ruled how they handled the police and how the situation was handled now actually currently within a month the Tamil Nad has a DCP before the uh before that the ruling party doesn't have a DGP for a very long time for law and order and also the police has completely you know going through the ground they have arrested almost 2939 Sorry, 328 uh you know rowdies and they have made nonbel cases around 2,939 something and throughout the city the police is completely you know involving to you know reduce the crimes and also the uh you know drug culture was completely you know getting restricted even the sale illegal sale of liquors and the ganjas whatever it is it is coming into you know in the reduction.

[00:06:57]So the government is acting very far but the opposition as usual they want they are seeing how they are seeing but the government of the vijay is you know acting like how a people's government should act that is what's really happening and also all the ministers uh you know they are going everywhere you know they are you know meeting people and they hearing queries but before this uh TV no one can reach these uh you No, MBs are ministers. So that is how the system has changed. The system is getting changed.

[00:07:32]>> Please ask >> but these visuals or photos of the chief minister meeting people from the film industry that really doesn't really aug well for the optics of it because people really are looking for some solution especially on lo front and the chief minister is meeting these people not that he's spending his entire day just meeting people from the film industry just for the optics.

[00:07:51]>> How do you see that Mr. Pularo? uh that they're asking for time. They have said we've set up a new task force that will ensure that you know over time things will be under control. But the fact that in a month they haven't managed to change anything significant.

[00:08:06]One month sometimes may be too much time and 5 years may not be enough. Time is something you know which you don't count in days. time is the immediate and one month as I said you know one month has gone the whole problem seems to be what has come out and I should be corrected that there's a small port which is running the show and that they dominate the officers and most of the ministers unfortunately I don't blame them they're new he has filled up his entire cabinet there is no room for expansion there is no room for correction he has filled them up and you know this is not a small issue it's a very highly competitive political atmosphere in Tamil Nadu right now for him he should have definitely he should get working in a different way and I don't agree with some of my friends that work doesn't mean you should look serious and all that he has a chief minister he can go and visit anybody he wants for meetings but he should have a great team behind him does he have such a team you see all governments which have failed have shown that the chief minister may be well intentioned but then you know his government may not be working he has to get very alert he has to get very alert because you know I wish him well he's been there only a He's a new face he brought about. A lot of people in the country are looking up to him that change can come in this manner. But is this the change?

[00:09:21]>> In all this in all this there is a different angle or a different element that former BJP leader Anamalai flagged. He spoke about the north Indians or the migrants to be very specific and uh how the government can track them because he's indicating that a lot of migrants are behind this.

[00:09:41]Mr. Raja Gopalin is it easy for a state like Tamil Nadu that has a significant chunk of migrant population there to just blame them and say that we need to track them better to curb crime.

[00:09:54]Harish anamal should not have made that type of statement having been an IPS officer he he should understand his limitations if he has become a newar of politician taking the DMK line or the revian line that's a part harish I tell you Mr. Vijay the chief minister has to act. He is not you know in a position to do that. He has some handicap. I want to explain it to the you know your viewers.

[00:10:22]IPS IAS are yet to reconcile with the new dispensation.

[00:10:27]Babuam has been divided into two parts.

[00:10:30]the remedian parties, ADMK, DMK and not only that among the IA IPS officers south versus north Indian officers are more in district police in state police.

[00:10:43]Apart from that Mr. Vijay has just chosen even Mr. MK Stin the former chief has given him six months time we are only at the 32nd day. My impression Mr. Vijay should not be you know sitting idle but he's working down the clock from morning 9 to evening 6 he come to the office in the secretariat that gives a you know booster for the you know government employees apart from that >> he running a minority government the opposition is strong >> therefore this type of views will be echoed my understanding is as Rajin Kant has given him two years time I would like go to go with that these are things you have to look at this angle Mr. Vijay is having a handicap. He's yet to reconcile certain things. Similarly, the bureaucrats also also giving some sort of tip to the opposition parties. Why that electricity law problem? I accuse the DMK men of tipping off. James Martin should also act on that. You know, as a spokesperson of the TVK, he should also act within about the huliganism done by opposition parties.

[00:11:56]Sir, it's not just law and order that Vijay is facing flack uh for. We've also seen a lot of criticism coming in on his recent crop loan waiver announcement as well. Absara already there are many who are saying that this doesn't fulfill the promise made in the manifesto. It's just talking about 75,000 rupees. Others are saying that there are certain regions for example the farmers from Delta region are not happy. How does the AIDMK now uh look at this? Many are saying perhaps this is the first measure.

[00:12:28]Perhaps the next year there will be a different announcement that will take into consideration others who have loans higher than 75,000.

[00:12:38]>> When it comes to delivering on welfare measures and SOPs, I think we need to give the chief minister, the honorable chief minister, Mr. Vijay some more time. But I think his intentions have to be right in delivering on the election manifesto. It's not good enough to say I need some time. How much time do you need? What is the plan to deliver? Is are you going to deliver an installments? Are you going to deliver a certain scheme in a certain timeline?

[00:12:57]These have to be made clear by an administrative government which knows administration has to make this communication clear to people. People have believed you. They want farm waiver loans. They want uh student loans to be waved. There are a lot of women who voted for Vijay expecting remarkable change in terms of safety. So all of this if if Vijay is actually more communicative doesn't let only his cy rule the uh rule the communication in social media channels I think the government has to be a little more transparent the government has to be a little more emphatic and I think the government also has to act on its promises in a timely manner I don't I don't believe in this like give us some time how much time do you need you have the bureaucracy at hand you have the state apparatus at hand you have you seem to have established a good relationship with the center so give us a timeline when are you going to deliver on the promises let's talk about that.

[00:13:43]>> Yes, Mr. James. Mr. James Martin, that's a fair enough point. You either tell it to the people directly or you inform the house. The house is in session anyway.

[00:13:54]Tell what the idea is. How do you plan to go ahead about implementing some of these promises?

[00:14:00]>> Actually, you know, Rome was not built in a day. There is a problem. You know, the people is calm. Actually, only the opposition cannot digest the failure they have faced. That is what is happening. The people is sorry. Can I just come in for a second?

[00:14:15]No, wait a minute.

[00:14:16]>> Can I just come in for a second?

[00:14:19]>> Yeah, please.

[00:14:20]>> Yeah, quickly. Yeah. See, >> I don't I don't see I I know Rome was not built in a day, but opposition being uh disgruntled with Vijay's victories. I think it's very immature to make that argument because uh AIDMK has been in power for more than 33 to 35 years in in the state. We've seen power, we've seen defeats. So we don't have to grudge a new chief minister or a new actor who's taken on the mantle. It's not the case.

[00:14:42]We want delivery for the people. You made promises. When will you deliver? Us being disgruntled with this victory is is a really immature statement to make because we've seen we've seen power for 10 consecutive years. We've seen power for 33 years.

[00:14:55]>> Mr. Martin >> actually. Okay. Uh >> Mr. Martin for a second. Forget the opposition. At least tell the people of Tamil Nadu.

[00:15:03]>> Yeah. The people of Tamil Nadu. Yes. The white paper is released uh recently within a couple of days back you know what's the situation of finance institution and also regarding the electricity issue the government has provided 15,000 cr investment to make subsision so the government is acting very fast you know the in the point of people they doesn't worry about much about the opposition parties you know what they say they do such things regularly because even after ruling for a very long time they haven't done any promises what they have made in manifestos of in previous elections and now they are comparing them within a month. So their expectations is going soon going to be you know disaster Indian disaster but the people's point of view the vijay government is periodically acting in everything.

[00:15:48]>> Let me bring in Mr. Polaro.

[00:15:52]>> Okay sir point taken Mr. Polar you think this government yes it is perhaps in a honeymoon period of sorts but at some point in time they'll have to get better in how they communicate with people make their ideas very clear what's the road map for the implementation of these programs >> you see I think as I said a little earlier I feel sorry because you know you how how are you going to improve governance with the same ministers how they're all new know there is no wizard among them acknowledged wizard I feel sorry you from Tamil has had a government self-government from 1930 I think and a bureaucracy even earlier than that how are these ministers able to cope and that's what I fear I fear as I said one month maybe too long also you know if you want to improve governance the CM must have a good team and does he have a good team that's what I worry about there's a lot of talk and I can be corrected by Mr. Martin that there's a quot running this affair that everything has to be cleared by them. ISIP officers come in later and then the ministers are of course you know too junior to raise voices. He has to do something about this before it's too late. He has to upgrade his government. I see it in good faith not just for anything you know still minister is now rising to the occasion. It's very important. The chief minister might be above me. He's doing okay. He's new. He's making all the right moves all the right noises. But how are you going to improve it? That's what I fear. Day by day as things go, it may become even more panicstricken.

[00:17:23]There'll be lots of problems coming up.

[00:17:25]There's a serious >> what we have seen.

[00:17:28]>> But what we have seen this week is also a white paper that has been tabled in the assembly. Mr. Raj Gopal, do you feel that now that the TVK is in power, they're still targeting the DMK. They're saying the DMK has left us a huge debt and uh many are saying law and order will take time because it has been neglected over the last few years. We'll take time to fix the system and ensure things work on ground. How long can the TV keep saying this? Because many would also say that now you're perhaps preparing ground to not roll out all your promises made in the manifesto by saying that we the state has a huge debt thanks to the previous DMK government.

[00:18:08]Harish for the last 70 years two parties were dominating Tamil Nadu. He is a new entrant. We must give him time. There is no as polar says is absolutely senseless. There is no where is the government has not even set in. What does he talk? Does he know Tamil? What is he talking? Number one. Number two.

[00:18:30]What are you talking? I tell you he's a supporter of DMK. That is why he's talking like that. Now coming to the point simple point is there is no inad is also having it problem and like this polaro type of persons who are creating this disturbance because 60% of the opposition 40% of the government therefore he has a problem the teaching problem he has to have this he visited Delhi he understood the financial problem he gave importance to the financial fiscal deficits etc problem will automatically come and sit wait and watch give him some more time when we debate it and there is a lack of problem I agree today everyone is staging a demonstration that is also a democracy he has given a space for that he is not containing that today all the parties have demonstrated in the prince president of assembly has MK Stin learned it that initial states he also took he has four years time did understand is bureaucracy it will take time.

[00:19:38]>> Yes.

[00:19:40]>> Yes. So unfortunately I I'm out of time on this debate but clearly uh the political parties in the opposition and perhaps a chunk of the population in Tamil Nadu would want those results to be out quick in terms of law and order or delivering the promises made in the manifesto. Thank you Mr. Pulara, Mr. James Martin, Mr. Raj Gopalan and Absari for joining us on the show. Well, it wasn't just Vijay and Tamil Nadu government which had a rough week. The new chief minister in Karnataka Vikkeshukumar also was facing criticism over his ambitious biddi township project. Remember the farmers have hit the streets. The opposition parties are backing them. So what's the reality on ground? My colleague Afin Hussein gets you this exclusive ground report from Biddi. And even as we end this show, take a look at the voices from the town of Biddi on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

[00:20:37]Thank you for watching.

[00:20:47]I'm here in Beri where the Karnataka government's proposed Greater Bengaluru integrated township project has emerged as the state's most contentious land acquisition issues triggering a political battle between the ruling Congress government and the Jantaadal secular while placing the farmers of this land at the center of the debate.

[00:21:05]So what exactly is this project? The greater Bengaluru integrated township which is going to be developed on Bengaluru's southwestern outskirts has been projected by the government as a large integrated township and AI city aimed at supporting Bengaluru's future growth and decongesting the city. On June 11, the government issued a final notification to acquire about 518 acres in three villages. The response from farmers has been divided. In Kempay and Napalia where I'm right now, several land owners have agreed to part with their land citing bore whale failures, labor shortages and declining returns from agriculture. Just a few kilometers away, the mood is very different.

[00:21:43]However, farmers in Mandali and Vadrai are opposing the acquisition saying the notified land is fertile and supports crops such as aranut, coconut, mango and other plantations including seric culture. Today there is a myth of civilization so-called civilization only the urbanization is the civilization but the real civilization is the food we are the owners of producers of food basically we are the roots of civilization but governments all the governments with the bureaucrats and the capitalist want us to give us the right of land to the others and we want to work as slaves with them >> here poor farmers are suffering from 455 days where are you guys I request Yes Rahul Gandhi please come over here for other states and all you are telling don't cut trees here more than four lakh trees coconut trees only four lakh total 10 lakh trees they're going to cut down here for the AIC will AIC will give the food does AIC will give the food does AIC will give the water does a city will give the pure pure air >> the government meanwhile has defended the project the newly elected chief minister DK Shivkumar has said a substantial majority of affected land owners have consented to give their land and the government has also announced compensation of over 2 cr for the affected land owners along with rehabilitation measures and a 50/50 scheme where the government will develop 50% of the land and give that land back to the farmers. The issue has now moved beyond land acquisition and entered the political arena with Union Minister and JDS leader HD Kumar Swami supporting the farmers who are opposing the acquisition and saying that he would even knock on the doors of the court it if need be to support the farmers. Now with the final notification the project has moved into the next stage but with protests continuing on the ground and political opposition intensifying the debate over the BDI township is far from over. This is Afrin Hussein reporting from Bhi Karnataka with Vijay Karthik.

[00:23:45]In connection with the Sandy theat stampede case which took place on the 4th of December 2024. Well, now we see that the NALI court has now once again issued and summons to Tollywood actor Alu Arjun who is accused number 11 in this very case where we see that one woman had lost her life in the stampede like situation at the Sya theater during the premieres of Pushpatu. And now what we see is that the NALI court has issued and summons to actor Alu Arjun to appear in person before the court on Monday for the hearing and also at the same time remember Alu Arjun is accused number 11 in this very case which was booked back then in 2024 December.

[00:24:34]Massive borrowers between the center and the state after Telangana Chief Minister Raantradi demands that the central government should immediately release the funds which have been issued for the Hyderabad Metro Rail and also at the same time Rayant Reddi the Telangana Chief Minister continued to accuse Kishan Reddi over holding of funds which they had taken from the central government and also at the same time the state government says that they are ready to take up metro rail phase 2 project on the state funds itself and they do not need to depend on the central government in an alleged case of custodial debt that has now come to light from Vijayara in Pradesh where now we see a 23-year-old Sai Krishna had ended up his life in an video where he alleged that he was brutally beaten up by the police officials in custody D and that is the reason why he is not able to bear that torture and he is ending up his life is what he had alleged in the video. Based on the complaint received from Sai Krishna's mother the city police commissioner has filed an FIR against the uh SI and also based on the complaint further investigation has been taken up into this very case. YSRCP chief and former chief minister chapanchesh Jagan Muani has now demanded for a CBI probe into this matter.

[00:26:09]The inaugural trip of the Priyad Shini free bus travel services for women in KSRTC is just reaching the secretary at Darbar Hall. Chief Minister Widi Satishan after inaugurating this he got on in this first trip from Tambanor in Piranapuram outside the main uh bus stand in Piranapuram and now they are coming uh inside the state secretariat to the Darbar hall. So it's basically uh in the ordinary buses in the state this free travel will be provided for women and that is also the criticism that has been uh raised by the opposition as far as this project is concerned saying that uh it is only for uh the ordinary buses and not for the other buses as promised by the UDF. This was one of the fall promises of uh the UDF that has been fulfilled. Right now we are inside the KSRTC ordinary bus. This was a bus in which chief minister Widi Satishan had traveled while he inaugurated the Priyadni project. The free bus travel for women in ordinary buses.

[00:27:36]So that was the driver who took this inaugural bus that inaugural trip from uh Tampan to the Dwar Island secretariat uh and she is saying that it was a very proud moment for her. Heat. Heat.