Tamil Nadu chief minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam ( TVK ) president C Joseph Vijay on Friday launched a fierce attack against the Opposition, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ( DMK ) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), for their “silence” in the alleged POCSO case involving R Veeramani , the Chairman of Gem Group of Companies.
I thought of not speaking about it, but for many years, many young women and young girls of Tamil Nadu have been exploited by one person (R Veeramani). We have put him in jail. And now, they (DMK, AIADMK) are not talking about him. “Vijay came and immediately dug up an issue that was kept hidden for so many years. In this regard, no one—be it Veeramani, those who were complicit with him, or anyone who attempted to shield him, regardless of the positions they held—should escape.”
Because i have arrested him (Veeramani), they (DMK, AIADMK) are in a kind of shock and are not able to speak about it. (Stalin) Sir, these are young girls”, he said, just. Launching the campaign for the party’s candidate Maragatham Kumaravel in Madurantakam SC constituency for the October 6 by-poll, Vijay said, “A terrible thing is happening here in Tamil Nadu. Without naming Veeramani or his associates in his 30-minute-odd speech, Vijay alleged, “This case came up even during the previous DMK government too, but they closed and hid that case and its history.
Hitting out at the claims made by the DMK that they were born ‘solely’ for women’s safety, Vijay said, “This man (R Veeramani) has ruined so many young women. Earlier in the day, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising senior IPS women officers was formed to take up the probe in the case, the government said. Meanwhile, the president of the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), MK Stalin , said, “Veeramani has been arrested based on allegations of involvement in inhumane and despicable acts against young girls.
In a strongly worded statement issued late on September 24, the former chief minister said, “As the leader of a political movement, a head of a family, and a human being with a conscience, my wish is that the outcome of this case serves as a deterrent so that no one ever dares to entertain the thought of committing such crimes in the future.”
