Vijay argues that individual crimes should not be equated with a law and order situation

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay argued on Monday that there is a difference between individual crimes and the overall law and order situation in the state and that not every crime can be characterized as a law and order problem.

“The outlook on crime should change. The responsibility for the crime cannot be placed on the government, because not all crimes were committed in the last 100 days,” he said in response to the debate on the request for subsidies for the Police and Fire Rescue Departments in the parliament.

According to Mr. Vijay, every crime had a motive, which could include family and property disputes, personal enmity and revenge, drug use, loss of fear of the law under previous governments, policing under the control of certain individuals, caste identity, inter-caste marriages and local and political power struggles.

“That was why I said while addressing the SP conference that the role of the police should not end with arresting the culprit. The police should act to prevent crime. Every police station should work closely with the people in its jurisdiction,” he said.

Mr. Vijay said that as society has entered the digital world, cybercrime has become a major challenge across the globe. “It is not enough to equip the police to deal with cybercrime; we also need to create awareness and provide digital skills and education to all,” he said.

The chief minister expressed concern over the involvement of students in criminal incidents and said there was a need to work with their families and provide them with proper counselling.

“The reasons for the crimes were circumstances, lack of care and affection from families, bad society, the impact of social media, lack of drug awareness and the urge to project yourself as important. But I don’t want to join the opposition who are trying to spend money and collect data from 2001 to 2025,” he said.

He also argued that blaming a “drug culture” for student behavior was not a sign of good leadership.

“Our government won’t do it. The students didn’t realize it was affecting their families and they weren’t properly guided. We cut the branches of the drug culture that grew into the tree. We have to root it out,” he said.

The chief minister also said that the police have been advised to take immediate action in cases of crimes against women and children.

Published – 8 Sep 2026 0:45 AM IST