MK Stalin responds to CM Vijay following Assembly gesture controversy

Political tensions in Tamil Nadu have escalated following a controversial gesture made by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay during a Legislative Assembly session. The gesture, involving touching his jaw, was interpreted by opposition members as a mockery of DMK president MK Stalin, who suffered a fractured jaw during his detention under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the 1975 Emergency.

Vijay clarified via social media that the gesture was accidental and not intended to offend. However, MK Stalin responded by recounting the brutal conditions he faced in prison, including being held in unhygienic rooms and subjected to physical assaults by police. Stalin asserted that “history can never be changed” and challenged the Chief Minister to study the historical reality of the DMK’s struggles.

Other political figures have weighed in on the dispute. VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan condemned the Chief Minister’s body language as being “against human dignity,” while DMK MP Kanimozhi criticized Vijay’s handling of rising crime in Chennai. In response to the Assembly exchange, the DMK has announced statewide protests scheduled for September 12.