Vijay Condemns Abuse Against Women Amid Trisha Row
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has said abusive and defamatory language against women will not be tolerated, amid an ongoing political controversy over alleged remarks by Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin involving actor Trisha Krishnan.
Vijay Condemns Abusive Remarks Against Women
Addressing the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Vijay said political leaders were free to criticise one another strongly but should not cross into personal attacks, vulgar language or double-meaning remarks targeting women.
Vijay, who did not name Udhayanidhi during his remarks, said women had played a major role in his electoral victory and urged political parties to respect their dignity. He described the increasing use of degrading language in political discourse as unacceptable.
Udhayanidhi Stalin-Trisha Controversy
The remarks come after Udhayanidhi became embroiled in controversy over comments made during a Cauvery-related protest in Thanjavur in August.
Critics accused him of making a vulgar, double-meaning remark after people in the crowd chanted Trisha’s name. Udhayanidhi denied insulting the actor or making an objectionable statement, maintaining that his words related only to the Cauvery issue.
He was arrested on August 4 in connection with the case and later released on station bail. The DMK accused the Vijay government of political vendetta and disputed the interpretation of his remarks.
Vijay Invokes Jayalalithaa Assembly Episode
Vijay also referred to the humiliation allegedly faced by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the Tamil Nadu Assembly in 1989 while arguing that political disagreement should never become personal degradation of women.
He said freedom of speech permitted harsh criticism but did not justify defamatory or abusive attacks, adding that the public was closely watching the conduct of political leaders.
