Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has landed in controversy over a gesture he made in the Assembly. Opposition party DMK and the CPM, which is extending outside support to the government, have accused Vijay of body-shaming former CM MK Stalin and mocking the arrests made during the Emergency of 1975–77.
However, Vijay has clarified that he did not make the gesture intentionally.
While responding to opposition questions during a discussion on his government’s demands for grants in the Assembly, Vijay referred to the Emergency and arrests made under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act, 1971 (MISA). Although he did not name MK Stalin, he gestured near his jaw while saying, “On every issue, our friend keeps saying that we have seen MISA. If they bring up MISA in everything, what can we do?”
The opposition linked the gesture to MK Stalin’s jaw. Stalin was arrested in 1976 during the Emergency and was allegedly assaulted in police custody, resulting in a broken jaw.
DMK says CM is portraying the Emergency in a vulgar manner
DMK MP Kanimozhi also launched a sharp attack on Vijay. She said Vijay was trivialising one of the darkest periods in Indian political history.
Kanimozhi said, “They are portraying MISA and the Emergency in a vulgar manner. Many people who opposed it across the country were sent to jail. They suffered so much. Many of their Communist colleagues were also imprisoned.”
She also questioned Vijay’s response to criticism in the Assembly. Kanimozhi said, “When questions are raised in the Assembly, they should be answered. They are in power, but they do not understand this. They think making allegations and mocking others is what Assembly proceedings are about. Today, Chief Minister Vijay’s speech reached its lowest level.”
CPM leader says: Don’t make allegations without knowing history
Tamil Nadu CPM state secretary Shanmugam also criticised Vijay. His party is extending outside support to Vijay’s TVK government.
Shanmugam said, “MK Stalin’s jaw was broken after he was assaulted by the police during the Emergency. The body-shaming by the Chief Minister is irresponsible.”
He also targeted TVK ministers and leaders. Shanmugam said they should study history before making allegations. He said, “They should not make allegations without knowing history.”
TVK denies body-shaming allegations
TVK spokesperson Sathyakumar rejected the body-shaming allegations. He said, “It was just a gesture and there was no body-shaming involved.”
He said TVK welcomes differences of opinion, but Vijay’s gesture was not body-shaming.
Law minister says not every arrest was under MISA
The controversy over MISA also echoed in the Assembly. During the debate, Law Minister Nirmal Kumar defended the government’s position.
He said, “During the Emergency, people were arrested even in cases involving theft, murder or defaming women. Not all arrests can be considered arrests made under MISA.”
MK Stalin’s 1976 arrest and broken jaw
In 1976, during the Emergency, MK Stalin was arrested under MISA. In his autobiography, Stalin stated that he was brutally beaten while in police custody at Chennai Central Jail. As a result, his jaw was broken.
What is body-shaming?
Body-shaming refers to making negative comments about or mocking a person’s physical appearance, including their body size, weight, complexion or physical features. It is a form of abuse that can negatively affect a person’s mental and physical well-being, causing embarrassment, stress and feelings of inferiority.
