Against human dignity: Vijay ally Thirumavalavan slams Tamil Nadu CM for body-shaming MK Stalin

The VCK chief's remarks came a day after Vijay clarified that the gesture was inadvertent and not intended to hurt Stalin personally, amid a growing political row between the two parties.

In Short

• VCK chief calls Vijay’s body language undignified against human dignity
• CM Vijay clarifies gesture was inadvertent, denies intent to hurt Stalin
• DMK demands action as controversy over Stalin gesture intensifies statewide

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Tholkappiyan Thirumavalavan has launched a sharp attack on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK chief Vijay over his alleged gesture targeting DMK president and former CM MK Stalin during an Assembly speech on Tuesday, saying such body language was "undignified and contrary to human dignity".

His remarks came a day after Vijay, whose TVK is running a coalition government with the support of VCK, clarified that the gesture was inadvertent and not intended to hurt Stalin personally, amid a growing political row between the two parties.

In a post on X, Thirumavalavan said Vijay’s conduct could not be justified merely as unintended, stressing that political criticism should not cross the line into personal humiliation or an attack on an individual’s self-respect.

He said public figures, particularly those holding constitutional offices, had a greater responsibility to maintain dignity and restraint.

"Amid severe criticisms that, during the Honourable Chief Minister's response on the police grant, his body language was mocking towards Thiru Thalapathy Stalin, the DMK leader and former Chief Minister, the Chief Minister's side has clarified that 'it was not intentional.' However, on behalf of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), we point out that such 'body languages' are not a dignified approach and are against human dignity," the VCK president wrote on X.

Thirumavalavan further added that in no context is it civilised to belittle or hurt someone's 'self-respect', maintaining that "political criticisms against an individual are one thing; criticisms that personally hurt someone's self-respect are another".

Thirumavalavan said that respecting elders was a fundamental aspect of human dignity and urged the Chief Minister, given the stature and responsibility of his office, to exercise greater restraint and sensitivity in his body language in the future.

The TVK ally also criticised the subsequent controversy over Vijay’s references to the Emergency and Stalin’s detention.

He said the DMK’s demand to remove portions of the Chief Minister’s speech from Assembly records had been followed by an intervention from Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar that, according to the VCK leader, amounted to a "historical error".

WHAT IS THE ROW ABOUT?

The controversy stems from Vijay’s Assembly speech on September 7, when he attacked the DMK over alleged corruption during its previous regimes.

While referring to MISA and Stalin’s Emergency-era detention, Vijay placed his palm against his jaw, a gesture interpreted by the DMK and CPI(M) as a reference to Stalin’s broken jaw, which he suffered after being assaulted in custody.

Vijay subsequently said on X that his body language during the police grant discussion “was not in any way intentional” and requested that it not be construed as an attempt to hurt anyone personally.

Speaker JCD Prabhakar, meanwhile, rejected the DMK’s demand to expunge Vijay’s MISA-related remarks.

The DMK has announced a statewide protest on September 12 against what it termed scurrilous remarks by Vijay against Stalin, former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and other party leaders.

The agitation is expected to intensify the political confrontation, with the VCK’s criticism adding another layer to the controversy.

- Ends