Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has voiced alarm over the ongoing conflict in Gaza, highlighting reports that Israeli strikes killed at least 29 Palestinians, including 19 in Gaza City, on 18 September 2025. Through his official X account, Stalin wrote, “Gaza is gasping, the world must not look away. I am shaken beyond words by what is unfolding in #Gaza. Every visual is gut wrenching. The cries of infants, the sight of starving children, the bombing of hospitals, and the declaration of genocide by the UN Commission of Inquiry together show the suffering that no human being should ever be subjected to. When innocent lives are being crushed in this way, silence is not an option. Every conscience must rise. India must speak firmly, the world must unite, and we must all act to end this horror now. #StopGazaGenocideNow #Palestine”
Gaza is gasping, the world must not look away.
I am shaken beyond words by what is unfolding in #Gaza. Every visual is gut wrenching. The cries of infants, the sight of starving children, the bombing of hospitals, and the declaration of genocide by the UN Commission of Inquiry… https://t.co/ssbHjKW8nt
— M.K.Stalin – தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) September 18, 2025
However, Stalin’s show of concern for a global humanitarian crisis drew sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who accused him of turning a blind eye to the mounting law-and-order problems within Tamil Nadu itself. They pointed to the surge in murders, public assaults, and vandalism by drunken miscreants across the state. Example, two incidents of today gained severe attention
Pregnant Woman Attacked In Chennai
One shocking case unfolded in Padi, Chennai, where a pregnant woman was attacked by a gang of six men. Velmurugan, a grocery store owner, was allegedly threatened by the group demanding a monthly supply of groceries worth ₹5,000. When he refused, the gang attempted to stab his eight-months-pregnant wife, Tamil Mathi, injuring her back, head, and ear. The assailants fled after locals rushed in upon hearing her screams. Police have launched an investigation into the incident.
Cars Vandalized In Madurai
In another disturbing incident, residents of Narasingam Ammachiamman Nagar in Madurai woke up to find their cars vandalized by a group of intoxicated youths. The culprits smashed windshields and doors with stones. Othakadai police later arrested three youths Rajasanjay (19), Muthupandi (18), and Ganeshpandian (19) in connection with the attack.
Opposition parties argue that while the Chief Minister finds time to issue statements condemning international conflicts, he appears unwilling or unable to address the growing insecurity, crime, and breakdown of law and order on home soil.
Banned Gutka Sold Openly In Chennai Despite Prohibition
In a shocking incident, video footage has surfaced showing banned products like gutka and pan masala being sold openly in Royapuram, Chennai.
Though the Tamil Nadu government has outlawed gutka and similar substances, and police routinely crack down on smuggling from neighboring states, the footage reveals small packets of the banned items being sold in broad daylight on the steps of a closed shop at Singarath Thottam’s Third Street. The visuals have triggered public outrage, with residents demanding immediate and strict action against those behind the illegal trade.
DMK Town Panchayat President Arrested for Alleged Murder Of Whistleblower
On 11 September 2025, police arrested DMK Samalapuram Town Panchayat president Vinayagam Palanisamy, 60, on charges of murdering a local activist by deliberately ramming his car into the victim’s two-wheeler.
The deceased, Palanisamy (57) of Karugampalayam, was a social activist who had earlier filed a petition with the Tiruppur District Collector opposing a Panchayat road project. His complaint reportedly led to the suspension of the project, creating friction with the Town Panchayat president.
The fatal incident occurred on the evening of 10 September near Karugampalayam Government Primary School along the Samalapuram–Karnampettai Road. The activist was struck from behind, thrown off his bike, and died on the spot. Initially treated as a road accident, the case shifted when Mangalam police traced the vehicle to the Panchayat chief.
Investigators now suspect that Vinayagam Palanisamy, allegedly drunk at the time, intentionally targeted the activist in retaliation for his role in halting the project. The probe is ongoing.
DMK Councilor Arrested For Brewing And Selling Illicit Liquor In Erode
A DMK councillor has been arrested in connection with brewing and selling illicit liquor in Erode district. Police seized 7 liters of liquor and the materials used for distillation during the raid.
The incident came to light after the Erode District Maoist Prevention Unit police received confidential information that liquor was being illegally sold in the Appusamy garden, located in the Kuttaiya Kadu area near Kanchikoil in Perundurai taluka. Acting on the tip-off, police rushed to the spot and found evidence of brewing activity, along with ingredients required for making liquor.
Upon investigation, police identified the person responsible as Suresh Kumar (42), a DMK member from the Pethampalayam area near Kanchikoil. He is currently serving as the third ward councilor of the Pethampalayam Panchayat for the second term and also holds the position of deputy organizer of the Perundurai East Union DMK Youth Wing.
Police revealed that Suresh Kumar was engaged in the brewing and sale of liquor with the assistance of Muthusamy (50), who has been working in his garden for nearly 30 years.
Following this, police conducted searches at the residences of both men early yesterday morning. During the operation, about 7 liters of liquor kept for sale were seized, along with equipment used in distillation. Both Suresh Kumar and Muthusamy were arrested, interrogated, and later produced before the court, which remanded them to judicial custody.
Meanwhile, the Special Cell Police also confirmed receiving intelligence regarding illicit liquor operations in the Kuttaikadu area of Kanchikoil. A thorough search led to the discovery of brewing activities in the Appusamy estate. The arrests and seizure were subsequently handed over to the Erode District Prohibition Enforcement Police for further action.
Untouchability Wall Blocks Dalits’ Access In Tiruvarur
In Valangaiman, Tiruvarur district, a 200-metre wall built across a traditional pathway has sparked outrage among Dalit residents, who allege it is a caste barrier cutting them off from schools, workplaces, and public facilities.
The 10-foot structure, erected three years ago at Kovilpathu, now forces over 1,000 Dalit families including 800 schoolchildren to take a longer route via the main road. Activists call it an “untouchability wall,” accusing dominant caste groups of backing the blockade to exclude Dalits from a new housing layout.
Officials have so far termed it a private land dispute, but local residents demand urgent intervention, warning that their daily lives and livelihoods remain severely disrupted.
Past Instances Of Such “Untouchability Walls” In TN
In Dravidian model Tamil Nadu, the news of such ‘untouchability walls’ is not new. Here are a few:
August 2025: In Muthuladampatti, Karur, a 200-foot-long, 10-foot-high wall was constructed by the Thottia Naicker community on government land (poramboke). Arunthathiyar (SC) residents allege it is a “wall of untouchability” built to block their access to predominantly caste-Hindu areas, despite their complaints to revenue officials. The construction led to protests and peace talks, but no resolution was reached. Caste Hindus claim the wall was for “safety and security” from outsiders.
February 2024: Dalit residents of Sevur, Tiruppur, alleged a one-kilometer wall was built by dominant-caste residents to block a public road, forcing them to take a 2 km detour. The local panchayat president confirmed the wall was illegally built on a common pathway and had issued a demolition notice, which was ignored. The dominant-caste residents’ association denied allegations of untouchability, claiming the wall was for safety and crop protection. The district collector ordered an inspection to verify land records.
July 2021: A 9-foot-high, 150-meter-long wall was built by farm owners in Kalkandar Kottai, Trichy, allegedly to separate their land from a Dalit colony. Protesters, including local CPM members, claimed it was an “untouchability wall” erected because the owners planned to sell the land for real estate and wanted to segregate the community. Local civic officials confirmed no permission was given for the wall and promised to investigate.
Crumbling Education System
Tamil Nadu is facing a critical shortage, with over 1,000 headmaster positions and thousands of teaching roles unfilled in government schools. This lack of teachers has made it increasingly difficult for educators to effectively teach students.
While all government schools fall under the Department of School Education, various wings of the department are responsible for primary and secondary schools. In Tamil Nadu, approximately 25,50,997 students are enrolled in 31,336 primary schools, with around 1,08,537 teachers. In secondary schools, there are 6,218 institutions across the state, with 27,24,256 students and 1,16,863 teachers.
The shortage of teachers and headmasters is creating significant challenges for both educators and students. Despite this, the government has failed to address these vacancies. According to teachers’ unions, more than 1,000 headmaster positions remain vacant in the state’s 37,000 primary, middle, and high schools.
What is even more alarming is the fact that the last recruitment for primary school teachers took place in 2021-2022, filling a mere 14 positions. For secondary schools, 3,043 vacancies were filled in the 2022-2023 academic year. The DMK government, instead of addressing this shortage, has resorted to using temporary staff, allowing the education system to spiral into chaos.
The recent ASER 2024 report highlights a disturbing gap in foundational literacy and numeracy across India, with some states showing significant recovery from pandemic disruptions while others, like Tamil Nadu, are lagging behind in key educational indicators. The report compares the progress of various states, and despite Tamil Nadu’s reputation for educational advancements, it has notably fallen short, particularly in government school performance.
Crumbling Healthcare
Over the past year, multiple cases of medical negligence and facility failures have exposed cracks in what was long thought of as a robust public health system in Tamil Nadu. Many incidents expose the rotten state such as a patient who had to have her arm amputated after an angioplasty at Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital, and a toddler who died after an amputation in Egmore due to an alleged IV error.
These aren’t isolated tragedies. They suggest systemic gaps in oversight, accountability, and standard of care — especially in government-run hospitals. The frequency of such incidents undermines public trust in institutional healthcare, even as the state claims people still prefer state hospitals due to faith in its legacy.
A second major issue is staffing — both in terms of numbers and specialization. Government data shows substantial shortfalls: over 30% of sanctioned doctor posts remain vacant in many state hospitals; obstetricians and gynaecologists are among the worst hit.
As more beds and services are added under the Dravidian model without matching increase in critical personnel, existing doctors are overstretched. This affects emergency care, maternal services, and reduces ability to respond to complications. The gaps become even more pronounced in rural areas, where specialist access is already weak.
Infrastructure and resource availability paint a similarly worrying picture. In several hospitals, basic facilities are missing or under-prepared: cribs for newborns were unavailable in Kallakurichi Government Maternity Hospital, leading to newborns lying on the floor.
Medicine and supply shortages have also been widely reported — from IV fluids to essential antibiotics. Primary Health Centres often lack the medicines needed for even standard treatments (including snakebite, in some rural PHCs) and injections.
Meanwhile, more than a hundred Urban Health & Wellness Centres (UHWCs) — built and staffed — remain unopened, depriving communities of promised health access.
Lastly, health outcomes — which once were a strong point of the Dravidian model — show signs of reversing or not improving as expected. Maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in Tamil Nadu, while claimed to be one of the lowest nationally, is now reported to be higher when real-time data are used compared to official estimates, pointing to under-reporting or data lags.
Infant mortality has improved in some districts like Coimbatore and in city corporations, yet significant inter-district disparities persist and high newborn healthcare failures continue to be reported.
Together, these suggest that the Dravidian healthcare model is no longer uniformly delivering, particularly for the vulnerable populations. Unless addressed, the model’s strengths may increasingly be believed to belong to the past.
Focus On Your Backyard
Chief Minister Stalin’s impassioned plea for Gaza may resonate internationally, but the daily headlines from Tamil Nadu tell a starkly different story. From brutal attacks on women and rampant vandalism by drunken gangs, to banned substances being sold in broad daylight, to ruling party functionaries themselves accused of murder and illicit liquor trade — law and order in the state is visibly deteriorating. Add to this the grim realities of caste walls, collapsing schools, and a crumbling healthcare system, and the contrast becomes glaring. A government that projects itself as the guardian of social justice and the champion of global humanitarian causes is increasingly being seen as blind to the suffering in its own backyard. For many, the so-called “Dravidian Model” today stands less as a success story, and more as a cautionary tale of rhetoric without results.
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