Tamil Nadu faces criticism as youth drug incidents surge, BJP demands action

The BJP's Tamil Nadu chief, Nainar Nagendran, launched a severe attack on the state government on August 30, accusing it of turning a blind eye to the rising tide of alcohol and drug abuse among the population. He said the phenomenon endangers the future of the state's youth and undermines public safety.

His remarks were prompted by the recent homicide of a Hindu Munnaani functionary, Thani Gassalam, who was waiting at the old bus stop in Rajapalayam. According to police, a group of allegedly intoxicated youths pursued and stabbed the official outside a police station, leading to his death.

In a statement posted on X, Nagendran labelled the murder a tragic demonstration of the deteriorating law‑and‑order situation in Tamil Nadu and of the growing boldness of criminals.

He accused Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay of failing to keep the state out of the "clutches of addiction," despite pledges made by the TVK government to shut down liquor shops after assuming power. Nagendran noted that these promises have not resulted in a perceptible drop in alcohol consumption among youngsters nor a decline in drug‑related crimes.

The BJP leader further argued that fear of police action has vanished among offenders, pointing to numerous viral videos from the past quarter that show men, women and even school‑going children openly drinking liquor and using drugs.

Nagendran said the administration is more interested in producing social‑media reels than in solving the real problems faced by citizens, and that the governing party's campaigns have not been translated into effective ground‑level enforcement.

He urged the CM to tighten police supervision, launch a hard‑nosed crackdown on drug‑trafficking networks, and block the supply of alcohol and narcotics to young people, describing decisive action as essential for restoring public confidence and protecting the future of Tamil Nadu's youth.