Questions are being raised over Chief Minister Vijay’s priorities after the launch of the much-publicised “Singappen” Special Rapid Response Force for women’s safety was postponed for a second time, even as reports and headlines relating to sexual assaults, murders and crimes against women continue to dominate the news cycle in Tamil Nadu.
The Singappen force was one of the first major initiatives announced by Vijay after assuming office. The Chief Minister had personally highlighted the scheme as a key measure to strengthen women’s safety and had reportedly approved it among the first files signed after taking charge.
The programme was initially scheduled to be launched on 26 May 2026. However, it was postponed because the Chief Minister was on an official visit to New Delhi. The launch was then rescheduled for 29 May 2026 at Chennai’s Raja Rathinam Stadium, with Vijay expected to personally inaugurate the force.
Despite official preparations and announcements, the event was cancelled once again at the last minute.
The second postponement has triggered criticism because it reportedly coincided with Vijay being seen at the housewarming ceremony of his close associate and Route PR head Jagadish. The timing has led to the question of whether a flagship women’s safety initiative was effectively pushed aside while the Chief Minister attended a private function.
Thalapathy Vijay at the house warming ceremony of @Jagadishbliss ❤️ pic.twitter.com/z90U1Uaohp
— Priyamudan Mani (@TVKManiHQ) May 29, 2026
This delay in launch comes at a time when several incidents involving sexual abuse, violence against women and murders have attracted public attention across Tamil Nadu. The State has witnessed a steady stream of disturbing crime reports since the new government assumed office, making the prompt rollout of dedicated women’s safety mechanisms all the more important.
Priorities for a politician is very important. We have the honourable Prime minister Shri @narendramodi ji who hasn’t taken off work once in the last 12 years as Prime minister.
We have the Honourable Home minister Shri @AmitShah ji who has not travelled once abroad to take a…— Vinoj P Selvam (@VinojBJP) May 29, 2026
The Singappen force was announced as a specialised rapid-response unit intended to address crimes against women and security-related complaints. The proposed structure includes an Inspector General of Police, a Superintendent of Police, two Deputy Superintendents of Police, four Inspectors, eight Sub-Inspectors and twenty police personnel. The Chief Minister had also stated that the unit would function under his direct supervision. It is noteworthy that within the first 2 weeks of assuming power, 28 murders and 40 crimes against women have been reported and the number has been increasing every single day.
With the launch now postponed twice, questions are being raised about the urgency attached to the initiative. While administrative delays can occur, repeatedly postponing the rollout of a flagship women’s safety programme sends the wrong message at a time when concerns over crimes against women remain high.
It is noteworthy that public office requires constant attention to governance priorities over personal engagements.
The controversy has reignited a broader political debate: when a government repeatedly speaks about women’s safety while crimes against women continue to make headlines, should the launch of a flagship women’s protection force be treated as a top governance priority rather than an event that can be repeatedly deferred?
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