Udhayanidhi Stalin Arrested Over Remarks
Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested at his Chennai residence on Tuesday following complaints over allegedly misogynistic remarks made during a Cauvery water protest in Thanjavur.
Udhayanidhi Stalin Arrested in Chennai
A joint team of Thanjavur and Neelankarai police took the DMK leader into custody from his residence in Neelankarai. Additional police personnel were deployed outside the property as DMK workers gathered and protested against the action.
Police registered multiple cases after a functionary of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s women’s wing complained that Udhayanidhi had used offensive and derogatory language against women. Several FIRs were reportedly filed across Tamil Nadu in connection with the speech.
Alleged Trisha Remark Sparks Controversy
The controversy began during Udhayanidhi’s address on the Cauvery water dispute. While he was criticising Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, members of the crowd chanted actor Trisha’s name.
Udhayanidhi’s subsequent response was widely interpreted as a vulgar double entendre involving the actor. The TVK alleged that the comment objectified women and normalised verbal harassment from a prominent political platform.
The party also approached the National Commission for Women, seeking action and a public apology. BJP leaders separately condemned the remarks and demanded legal proceedings against Udhayanidhi.
DMK Alleges Political Vendetta
Udhayanidhi denied making any derogatory reference and accused the TVK government of diverting attention from farmers’ concerns and the Cauvery dispute. He described the police action as “comedy” and said he would contest the case legally.
The DMK called the arrest politically motivated, maintaining that Udhayanidhi had not named Trisha during his speech. His anticipatory bail petition was also moved before the Madras High Court as the political confrontation intensified.
