“Rajinikanth might be able to win over Karaikudi aachi (elderly woman) but not Tamil Nadu aatchi (regime),” said TN Cooperation Minister Sellur Raju to reporters in Madurai on Saturday. And framed the way that the sentence was, it caused massive outrage against the minister, who seems to land himself in controversy every few weeks.
‘Aachi’ is a respectful term used for elderly women in the Madurai, Karaikudi regions.
Sellur Raju further said, “That’s in people’s hands only. No one can assure that now. There’s no individual. People are the masters here. It is up to them to decide who will rule. Not everyone can become MGR or Puratchi Thalaivi Amma. As far as TN people are concerned, they don’t decide overnight, it is always well thought out.”
Angry people lashed out at the minister for his comments and accused him of disrespecting women. People belonging to the Chettiar community in Alangudi and Pudukkottai protested against the comments by floating thermocol in their village pond. Karaikudi Nagarathar Sangam also condemned the comments.
#Sellurraju
— Narayanan (@irs_narayanan) May 11, 2018
Dear komali raju apologize for your speech against nagarathars
#Sellurraju @polimernews @OfficeOfOPS @CMOTamilNadu remve mental minister sellur raju from ur post/party first if u think u can do something for TN people. otherwise he will create shame to ur party/family members one day...
— Palaniappan (@Palania84140153) May 12, 2018
What a wonderful comment from a state minister!
— Sankar Ramiah (@sramiah00) May 10, 2018
You are a disgrace to the entire state, sir! #SellurRaju https://t.co/En69v0xERu
The minister immediately clarified that he meant no disrespect to Madurai and Karaikudi aachis. “I didn't mean to hurt anyone. My words have been misunderstood by the media. I always respect people and society,” he said.
“I only had Manorama aachi in mind. She is a film actor. Rajini considered her his mother and acted with her as well. I only underlined that. Media has misconstrued my words,” he said.
He further added, “AIADMK respects women. We have 50% reservations in our party… I respect women as well. I didn't mean to hurt the sentiments of any community.”
On being asked if the AIADMK considers Rajinikanth or Kamal Haasan a threat, in an interview to Puthiya Thalaimurai TV, Sellur Raju said, “We are not attacking Rajinikanth or Kamal Haasan. We don’t consider them our enemies or think they are a threat. But when they criticise our government, we are forced to respond.”
Ever since his “thermocol” debacle, Sellur Raju has been the target of meme generators in Tamil Nadu.
ரஜினி தொடர்பான எனது கருத்து தவறாக புரிந்து கொள்ளப்பட்டுள்ளது, யார் மனமாவது புண்பட்டிருந்தால், வருத்தம் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன் - அமைச்சர் செல்லூர் ராஜூ. ஆமா பின்ன காலா இசை விழாவுக்கு வந்த கூட்டம் கண்ணு முன்னால வந்து போகும் ல அந்த பயம் இருக்கனும
— Nagu (@Naguraj2022) May 12, 2018
Rajinikanth | #Rajini | #SellurRaju pic.twitter.com/1ifRrwvY5N
நகரத்தார் சமூகத்தினர் மனம் புண்பட்டிருந்தால் வருத்தம் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்-அமைச்சர் செல்லூர் ராஜூ #SellurRaju
— கருப்பு மன்னன் (@yaar_ni) May 12, 2018
உங்க வீட்டு பிள்ளையா நினைச்சி என்ன மனிச்சிடுங்கா.... pic.twitter.com/FLnh6SJAYY
#Sellurraju #Admk pic.twitter.com/CD6v1WvUiU
— sa@se (@vettiofficer190) May 2, 2018
#Sellurraju atrocities. .. pic.twitter.com/SAO7Icx8La
— Suresh (@pononline) May 2, 2018
Quite recently the minister had claimed that party members could avail government benefits only if they had the party membership card. When this evoked angry responses, the then party spokesperson KP Palaniswamy came to his defense saying, “The minister did not mean that others won't get benefits. The message is being misconstrued.”
Also Read: