
Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition (LoP) Udhayanidhi Stalin created an uproar on the internet with his remark allegedly involving actor Trisha Krishnan. While his statement drew criticism from several politicians and social media users, women from the film industry also condemned the remarks.
Dubbing Udhayanidhi Stalin's controversial speech as ‘crass’, BJP leader Khushbu Sundar asked him to apologise to Trisha Krishnan.
In a long note on social media, Sundar, who serves as the State Vice President of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, said, "Heard #Udhayanidhi Stalin's speech. It was crass, cheap and deeply derogatory; reflecting the very political culture he seems eager to inherit.”
"What else can one expect from people who treat abusing, degrading and insulting women as a form of political theatre, basking in the applause, whistles and laughter of their loyal supporters? And who will know this better but me?”
She further added that regardless of politics, one must have boundaries, especially when it comes to the dignity of women. “Public discourse must have boundaries, regardless of political differences. Women need to be respected and not treated as a pawn to play to your whims and fancies,” she wrote.
Khushbu Sundar further alleged that the son of the former CM of the state cannot match the ‘performance, vision or leadership’ of Vijay, whose party defeated DMK. “When you know you cannot match the performance, vision or leadership of your political opponent, resorting to personal insults and vulgarity becomes the easiest escape.”
“The Leader of the Opposition owes #Trisha an unconditional public apology for insulting her on a public platform. Lets see if can own up his dirt and if he has the courage and decency to apologize?”
Taking to Instagram, actor-turned-BJP MP Kangana Ranaut also shared a strong message.
Slamming Udhayanidhi Stalin, Ranaut condemned the language used in his speech. “Public display of filthy abuses, double meaning obscene and vulgar jokes is not acceptable to any civilised society. Mr Stalin was sent to jail for the offence, he might be out on bail by now but it is a good precedent," the Queen actor said.
Singer Chinmayi Sripaada slammed men dragging women into politics instead of fulfilling their duties towards the nation. For Stalin Junior, she wrote, “If men in politics could just focus on actual issues instead of dragging women who have nothing to do with their scheme of things - it would be stellar. The reason abusive motor mouths like DMKs Shivaji Krishnamurthy could speak so vulgarly on political platforms is because he was encouraged to do so. Not once, but several times till he was expelled.”
“The least he could have done was tell his audience to pipe down or tell them to behave better, but he went ahead to say something far worse,” she added.
She recalled what former CM Jayalalitha faced during her time.
“It is of course, very easy for anyone in this ecosystem to say if we applied a crass meaning, it is our fault and that our thinking is crass, but I am old enough to remember how the very same ecosystem used to refer and speak about the late Honble CM Jayalalitha,” she said.
“What a disappointment. Women are not outraged enough -In rage. And in solidarity.”
DMK leader and former Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested on Tuesday. He was released after the Madras HC intervened. He was also questioned by police related to offensive remarks against Trisha, who is rumoured to be romantically linked with CM Vijay.