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After widespread condemnation, MP and DMK Deputy General Secretary A Raja issued a statement on Sunday, September 13, withdrawing the derogatory comments he made against Tamil Nadu Minister for Energy Resources, CT Nirmal Kumar.
Raja had made the comments a day earlier at a protest meeting organised by the DMK against the ruling TVK for the party’s attacks against DMK president MK Stalin. Nirmal Kumar had triggered a controversy by ridiculing Stalin’s political legacy of being detained under MISA during the Emergency. He insinuated that Stalin must have been detained for harassing women.
While condemning Nirmal Kumar’s comments questioning Stalin’s detention under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), Raja had lashed out at the Minister, saying: “‘I have a doubt, to whom were you born?’ Can I ask that? When you are doubting the integrity of my leader who has a lot of records, which is widely accepted by all leaders in India. Am I not entitled to say that ‘I am doubting your paternity?”
The derogatory remarks received widespread backlash from several political leaders, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).
Expressing regret over his anti-women comments, the DMK leader wrote, “The ‘identity’—the ‘truth’—born of sacrifice of a leader, deliberately schemed with ulterior motive and repeatedly branded as ‘falsehood’, mocked and ridiculed, causing ‘pain’: to make that felt, in an emotional impulse, questioning the identity—the truth—of the one who ridiculed; I too feel regret over that; I have no hesitation in withdrawing my words.”
Meanwhile, CPI(M) Tamil Nadu state secretary P Shanmugam said Raja’s speech was worthy of strong condemnation.
“It is intolerable that some DMK leaders continue to make derogatory remarks about women, and that their cadres cheer in response. Take a look at what Minister Nirmal Kumar said. How can a DMK leader sit back and watch idly as a mother is insulted? Regardless of who it is, any party leadership must step forward to condemn and discipline those who publicly demean women. Some DMK members continue to err on “dignity”,” he said.
Similarly, VCK leader and Minister for Social Justice, Vanni Arasu, condemned both Raja and former Minister Senthil Balaji for their derogatory remarks. He said that the DMK, which follows the slogan of duty, dignity and discipline, is now filled with ferocity, hatred and helplessness.
The Minister said that the remarks were insulting to women. He reminded that the VCK had come in support of DMK woman leader Kanimozhi when she was subjected to insults by the BJP and NTK and said they would do the same for the DMK.
Meanwhile, Nirmal Kumar responded to the controversy by attacking Stalin for allegedly instigating the attack against him. “Is stage-managing vulgar talk about me and our leader your last weapon, @mkstalin?” he wrote.
He said that the “obscene” drama staged by the DMK party has plunged the people of Tamil Nadu, especially women, into shock.
“Whenever questions arise about corruption, betrayal, or your lies targeting DMK, the weapon DMK resorts to is either violence or filthy speech. Can you show the crude speeches of these low-class DMK members to the women and children in their own homes, @mkstalin? People who had stepped away from politics because of DMK are now being drawn back into it by the Commander—do you realise that every move in politics is now being scrutinised by the people?”
