Chennai: Comments made by DMK Lok Sabha MP and former Union Minister A Raja against Tamilnadu Chief Minister had drawn the ire of the ruling AIADMK, which has petitioned the Election Commission seeking stringent action and to debar him from campaigning.
In fact, Raja’s remarks have earned him widespread condemnations from various sections of the society and the social media.
While campaigning in Thousand Lights constituency in the city for the 6 April Assembly elections, Raja, who was one of the key accused in the 2G spectrum case, made a vulgar and scandalous comments against Palaniswami and his mother.
It may be noted that never in the past such vulgar and uncivilised remarks were made against a Chief Minister, despite political animosity that prevail between the ruling party and the Opposition.
In his complaint to Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo along with the video clipping of Raja’s vulgar remarks, AIADMK advocate wing joint secretary C Thirumaaran said Raja has uttered not only adverse cmments against the CM and also made vulgar and third rated comments which is clearly attracted under the election offences as well as offences under the IPC.
“Raja has made a vulgar and scandalous speech against the Chief Minister for which a criminal complaint has already been lodged before the Chennai City Police Commissioner and a case was registered against him,” he said.
“Since Raja is continuously making false, vulgar speeches during his election cmapaign agaisnt the Chief Minister as well as against Deputy CM O Panneerselvam, he has undermined the reputation of the leaders of AIADMK and also subverting the election process,” he said.
“I reqeust the CEO to take immediate and stringent action against Raja to register cases against him under the provisions of electoral offences as well as under the provisions of IPC and delist and debar him from making any election campaign for his hate and vulgar speech.”
Meanwhile, PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss, whose party is an ally of the AIADMK, strongly condemned Raja for his unvilised and disgusting remarks against the Chief Minister and his mother.
In a statement here, Dr Ramadoss made a scathing attack against the DMK and said the DMK was not respecting women.
He said Palanswami, who grew up from the AIADMK ranks to become the Chief Minister, has more political acumen than DMK president M K Stalin, who is also the son of late DMK president and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.
When there are several decent words to compare Palaniswami and Stalin, the words uttered by Raja showed his standard and also that of DMK, Dr Ramadoss remarked.
He pointed out that Raja had said that Stalin’s slipper is worth one rupee more than Palaniswami. And now Raja had insulted Palaniswami’s late mother in a disgusting manner.
The silence of the alliance partners of the DMK, which are claiming as protectors of women and fighting for their empowerment, and other parties raised doubts about their political integrity, he added.
DMK member and anchor Dindigul Leoni made a sexist and distasteful comment, which body-shamed women, saying the hips of women have become like barrels since they are drinking the milk from foreign cows in a bid to stress his point to drink the milk of native breed cows.
Even as the controversy over Leoni’s remarks are yet to die down, Raja virtually added fuel to the fire with a derogatory comment against the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, amid furious outrage over the derogatory remarks made by Raja against
Palaniswami, Stalin has issued a stern warning to party members urging them to follow the tradition and uphold the dignity during the election campaigns.
In a statement here, without making any direct reference to Raja’s uncultured remarks during campaigning at Thousand Lights constituency in the city, Stalin urged the party members to maintain the tradition and dignity of the party in mind during electioneering.
Meanwhile, police have booked Raja under three sections, it is learnt.