Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is facing criticism from the DMK-led Opposition and some of his own allies over a gesture during his response to questions in the assembly, with even partner CPM accusing him of “body-shaming” former chief minister MK Stalin and trivialising the history of arrests during the 1975-77 Emergency.
Gesture interpreted by Opposition and CPM as a reference to MK Stalin’s jaw, fractured after he was allegedly assaulted in police custody following his arrest during the Emergency.
And today Chief Minister Vijay’s speech touched the lowest of lows,” she said. Earlier reporting noted: The charge was led by Chief Minister Vijay, who launched an all-out attack on Stalin on Monday, and even appeared to refer to his broken jaw with a gesture that earned censure from the opposition cutting across party lines. The controversy erupted after Vijay, while responding to the Opposition’s questions on his government’s demand for grants, referred to the Emergency and arrests under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). Not sure what to do if they bring in MISA for everything. Tamil Nadu CPM state secretary Shanmugam, whose party is supporting Vijay’s TVK government from outside, also criticised the chief minister. “MK Stalin suffered a fractured jaw in a police assault during the Emergency. She also questioned Vijay’s response in general to criticism in the assembly. “When questions are raised in the assembly, they should answer. They are in power. But they don’t understand. They mock, thinking levelling allegations against others is legislative activity. The MISA controversy also reverberated on the floor of the House, with Law Minister Nirmal Kumar defending the government’s position while responding to the debate. Why hasn’t he talked about those but only on Sarkaria Commission? It led to vociferous protest in the assembly, a stand-off with the Speaker and sharp remarks from Stalin about the way the house is being conducted.
He did not name DMK leader MK Stalin, who was arrested in 1976, but made a gesture around his jaw as he said, “On everything, our friends keep saying, ‘we have seen MISA! Earlier reporting noted: The arrest of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin under MISA or the Maintenance of Internal Security Act, 1971, during the Emergency became the focus of fiery exchanges between the ruling TVK and the opposition DMK in Tamil Nadu assembly this week.
The chief minister’s body-shaming is irresponsible,” Shanmugam said. But CPM’s Shanmugam also questioned why Vijay had chosen to focus on the Sarkaria Commission when he has said he has files on corruption during the DMK government that was voted out in May. “The Chief Minister had said he has three files on his table and challenged. It’s diversionary,” Shanmugam said.
