Chennai, Sept 9:
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay clarified that the body language he displayed during his reply to the police department’s demands in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on September 7 was spontaneous and had no intention of hurting anyone personally.
Vijay made the clarification through a post on X following criticism from leaders of several political parties over his gestures during his speech in the Assembly.
The Chief Minister said that the body language that emerged during his reply was “unintentional” and did not have any ulterior motive. He appealed to everyone not to interpret the gesture as an act intended to hurt anyone personally.
The controversy erupted during Vijay’s reply to the debate on the police department’s demands on September 7. His speech included sharp criticism of the DMK, with references to the MISA arrests and the Sarkaria Commission report.
The gestures made during the speech subsequently drew criticism from political leaders, who alleged that the Chief Minister had crossed the limits of decorum expected in the Assembly. Leaders, including those from the Communist parties, condemned what they described as personal attacks and body-shaming.
Responding to the criticism, Vijay sought to clarify that the gesture was not deliberate and should not be construed as a personal attack.
The episode has added another political flashpoint to the ongoing exchanges between the ruling TVK and the Opposition in the Assembly, where Vijay has repeatedly targeted the previous DMK regime over corruption and governance issues.
Vijay’s clarification comes amid heightened political activity in the State, with the ruling TVK also preparing for the September 9 meeting of its alliance partners and the October 6 bypolls to the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies.