Chennai: A gesture made by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK leader Vijay in the Assembly has turned into a major political controversy, with DMK chief MK Stalin hitting back by recalling the physical abuse he says he suffered in prison during the Emergency.
The controversy began during a heated Assembly exchange on September 7, when Vijay appeared to make a gesture towards his jaw while speaking about Stalin. The gesture was quickly interpreted by critics as a reference to Stalin’s long standing account of suffering a jaw injury after being assaulted in prison in 1976.
The issue has since moved beyond the Assembly floor, with political leaders accusing Vijay of crossing a line. VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan on September 9 called the gesture disrespectful and questioned the silence of the DMK leadership over the matter.
Vijay, however, has rejected the suggestion that he deliberately mocked Stalin. Addressing the controversy, he said the gesture was an involuntary expression and was “completely unintentional.” He maintained that it was not aimed at hurting or insulting anyone.
Stalin has given the controversy a much more personal dimension. Responding to Vijay, he spoke about his arrest during the Emergency in 1976 under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). Stalin has repeatedly said that he was subjected to severe physical abuse while in custody and that his jaw was fractured during the assault.
He also recalled the death of DMK leader Chitti Babu, who, according to Stalin, died after suffering torture in prison during the same period.
The DMK has not allowed the issue to die down. The party has announced a statewide protest for September 12, accusing Vijay of insulting Stalin and disrespecting the sacrifices made by the party’s leaders during the Emergency.
The clash comes at a politically sensitive time in Tamil Nadu. Vijay, who made the jump from cinema to politics with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, is now leading the state government, while the DMK sits in opposition with Udhayanidhi Stalin serving as Leader of the Opposition.
What started as a few seconds of body language has therefore become another bitter chapter in the growing political rivalry between Vijay and the Stalin led DMK. With protests planned and both sides refusing to back down, the controversy is unlikely to disappear from Tamil Nadu’s political debate anytime soon.
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