‘Same cheap rhetoric’: Vijay slams Stalin, DMK over ‘vile’ remarks against women

Vijay was referring to alleged controversial remarks by M K Stalin against TVK candidate P Sathyabama.

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Sunday lashed out at DMK and its president M K Stalin over escalating personal attacks, while issuing a “stern warning” against derogatory remarks targeting women.Referring to recent political speeches targeting women leaders, Vijay said, “I told you earlier if you vote for the DMK and certain others, it amounts to endorsing those who speak obscenely about women and humiliate them in public spaces. I didn’t say that just to score political points. Look at what happened the day before yesterday”.He was referring to alleged controversial remarks by M K Stalin against TVK’s Dharapuram bypoll candidate P Sathyabama while addressing a campaign meeting. Vijay and other TVK leaders have alleged that Stalin’s comments amounted to body-shaming the woman candidate.“What kind of vile speech did he (Stalin) make against our sister, Sathyabama. It was so vulgar that one cannot even bear to listen to it. And is he the only one speaking like this. Every single person he has nurtured and brought up is delivering the exact same cheap rhetoric,” Vijay said.“Speak whatever you want about me. I will take it. But if you dare speak against our sister, or against the mothers, sisters, and daughters of our households, I will not stay quiet. This marks a return to the era of MGR,” he added, referring to late Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran.Vijay made the remarks during a roadshow in bypoll-bound Dharapuram in Tiruppur district, where he campaigned for TVK candidate P Sathyabama ahead of the October 6 assembly bypoll.Vijay began the roadshow around 1 pm in his customised caravan and was expected to cover a 40-km stretch, with the campaign ending at 6 pm.He interacted with voters along the route and briefly travelled on a bullock cart. At several places, people gathered along the roads to greet him, showered flower petals and presented him with flowers, garlands and party towels.Vijay also offered prayers at the Moolanur Vanjiamman shrine, where he was accorded traditional temple honours. At another location, he walked for a short distance, waving to supporters and canvassing votes.The campaign route covered more than 20 public-contact points, including Periyar statue junction, Five Roads junction, Meenakshipuram, Kulathupalayam and Karaiyur. This was Vijay’s second campaign visit to the constituency after his September 30 rally.

Earlier on Saturday, in a post on X, Vijay accused the DMK of promoting “obscene, violent and perverse” political culture and alleged that such remarks had become part of the party’s political discourse.Vijay also accused DMK leaders of repeatedly making derogatory remarks about women and said voters in Dharapuram would give a “fitting reply” to the party in the October 6 bypoll. He said he was raising the issue as a “son and brother” of the women of Tamil Nadu.Meanwhile, TVK general secretary (election management) and minister Aadhav Arjuna warned that legal action would be taken against former chief minister M K Stalin and leader of opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin if they continued making derogatory comments against women.Polling in the Dharapuram and Madurantakam constituencies will be held on October 6, while counting of votes is scheduled for October 9.