Chennai, Sept 10:
DMK president M.K. Stalin has hit back at Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and Chief Minister Vijay over his controversial gesture in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, saying that Vijay was “right” to point to his chin as he had suffered an injury there during the MISA period.
The TVK, meanwhile, launched a counterattack over Stalin’s video through its IT Wing. The party questioned whether “panic” had set in after what it described as the shattering of a “fake image” surrounding Stalin’s MISA experience.
The controversy erupted during Vijay’s reply to the debate on the demands for grants for the Police and Fire and Rescue Services in the Assembly on September 7. Referring to the DMK’s repeated references to its leaders having faced MISA, Vijay made a gesture while speaking about the issue. DMK leaders objected to the gesture, alleging that it was an insult to Stalin’s experience during the Emergency.
Vijay subsequently clarified that the gesture was an unintentional expression of body language and said there was no ulterior motive behind it. He appealed that it should not be interpreted as an attempt to hurt anyone personally.
In a video released on Thursday, Stalin recalled his arrest during the Emergency. He said the DMK government was dismissed on January 30, 1976, after the party opposed the Emergency and criticised the MISA law. According to Stalin, police came to his Gopalapuram residence to arrest him under MISA and he was subsequently taken into custody.
Stalin alleged that he was subjected to severe physical and mental torture in prison. He recalled being kept in a small room with several others and subjected to beatings. He also referred to the death of his party colleague Chitti Babu, who, he alleged, was brutally assaulted in prison. Stalin said he himself suffered a fracture to his jaw during the period.
Referring directly to Vijay’s Assembly gesture, Stalin said that pointing to his chin was “right” because he had actually suffered an injury there. He added that the scars of the injuries he suffered during that period remained with him.
Stalin also said that history could not be changed by insulting him and asserted that the experiences of those who faced political repression would remain part of history. He recalled an earlier meeting with Vijay and claimed that Vijay had apologised to him at his residence for remarks made during the election campaign.
Stalin said he had advised Vijay at the time to speak about others with dignity and reminded him that a Chief Minister’s words and body language should set an example. He alleged that Vijay appeared to have forgotten that advice.
The DMK president also criticised the TVK government on several issues, alleging deterioration in law and order and accusing Vijay of turning the Assembly into a “reels forum”. He raised questions over the cancellation of the Parandur airport project, crop-loan waiver, LPG cylinder promises and the women’s monthly assistance scheme.
The TVK, meanwhile, launched a counterattack over Stalin’s video through its IT Wing. The party questioned whether “panic” had set in after what it described as the shattering of a “fake image” surrounding Stalin’s MISA experience.
The TVK alleged that an image of Stalin as a “prison-going martyr” had been built over several years and claimed that the latest video was an attempt to reinforce that narrative after questions had been raised over it.
The party also questioned the alleged “detention copy” and claimed that Stalin had not addressed the issue despite speaking at length about his MISA experience. It further alleged that the video contained several cuts and described it as an attempt to convince people of what it termed an inaccurate narrative.
With Stalin strongly defending his account of the MISA period and the TVK questioning it, the issue has developed into a fresh political confrontation between the ruling party and the DMK. The exchange has also widened the ongoing battle between the two parties over the Chief Minister’s Assembly remarks, with the MISA episode becoming a major political flashpoint.