Chennai: In a scathing criticism of the ruling AIADMK regime on all fronts, DMK top leader M K Stalin on Saturday alleged that Ministers of Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's Cabinet had turned into "extortionists" and charged that Tamil Nadu was in the "Intensive Care Unit".

In an open letter to Panneerselvam, Stalin said, "Government employees are being driven to suicide because Ministers have turned into extortionists. This, Thiru. Paneerselvam, is the Tamil Nadu of today."

In February, Agricultural Engineering Executive Engineer S Muthukumarasamy, committed suicide. "Agri" S Krishnamurthy was removed later as Agriculture Minister and dropped from party posts he held.

A CB-CID inquiry was ordered following allegations that the official killed himself due to pressure exerted allegedly by Krishnamurthy over the issue of appointments of some drivers.

"Your ministers who are supposed to govern Tamil Nadu spend every day carrying milk pots, performing poojas and walking on fire for the release of your leader," Stalin said referring to the spate of prayers in places of worship for the welfare of AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa.

Stating that Panneerselvam and his Cabinet colleagues were blissfully unaware of the state of affairs in Tamil Nadu, he said, "There used to be a time" when the biggest companies and industrial houses were keen to come to a healthy and vibrant Tamil Nadu.

"Today, Tamil Nadu is in the ICU and its vital signs are a cause for extreme concern. From being one of the top three investment destinations in India, today it has become one of the top three states from which companies are running away in desperation. Foxconn and Nokia left because of the government?s lack of support," he alleged.

"Hyundai, Ford, Saint Gobain and many others have decided to take their expansion up in other states. Small scale and tiny industries have been dying for the past four years."

He also alleged that the Global Investors Meet was postponed twice because the state "does not have the right Chief Minister to meet the delegates".

"You have spent 100 crores of people's money to invite companies from many countries, you had promised to bring in investments worth Rs 76,000 crores," he said.