Chennai:
DMK President M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday said the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu has worsened during the last one year of the AIADMK rule.
Leading the party's protest in Chennai against the severe power shortage in the state, Mr Karunanidhi said: "Since May 2011 when the new government took over, 928 murders and 768 thefts have taken place. There have been 476 cases of chain snatching."
He was referring to the statement of Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa at the conference of district collectors and police officers in Chennai on Monday that law and order situation in the state is good.
According to Mr Karunanidhi, the incidents of chain snatching have increased in the state due to power cuts.
He said the party is holding state-wide protest against severe power cuts.
Mr Karunanidhi said a ruler would lose his kingdom if he does not have proper counsel offering constructive criticism.
At its executive committee meeting in Chennai on December 13, the DMK accused the AIADMK government of disinterest in tackling the acute power shortage in the state and decided to hold a peaceful state wide protest Dec 18.
Citing reports that power generation was getting stalled due to the absence of generators and coal and the equipment failures, the DMK said these show the disinterest of the government in sorting out the power woes of the state and hence the protest.