Chennai, VCK founder and president Thol Thirumavalavan on Thursday criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay over his “body language” in the state Legislative Assembly towards DMK chief M K Stalin, while also demanding the withdrawal of the State Law Minister Nirmal Kumar’s remarks on the MISA era.
He said severe criticism has surfaced over the Chief Minister’s “body language” mocking Stalin during his reply to the debate on the police grant. “Although the Chief Minister’s side has clarified that there was ‘no ill intent,’ we, on behalf of the VCK, point out that such body language is neither a dignified approach nor aligned with human values”, Thirumavalavan said in his social media platform on Wednesday. “Belittling or hurting a person’s self-respect under any circumstances is uncivilized”, he said adding “political criticism directed at an individual is entirely different from personal attacks that wound self-respect”. He also said that such an approach was “unacceptable” even when directed at a vulnerable person lacking educational, economic or political power. Stressing that respecting elders is among the highest of human values, the VCK leader said, “therefore, it would be beneficial for a Chief Minister, who holds such a highly dignified and exalted position, to exercise utmost care regarding his body language in the future”. Referring to DMK’s request that certain portions of the speech be expunged from the House records, Thirumavalavan said, “the MISA related remarks made by the Law Minister, who intervened during that debate, amounted to a “historical error”. “The repression during the MISA era is well known to the entire nation,” he alleged adding “making a completely false statement regarding the DMK president, who endured that cruel repression, is strongly condemnable”. Interpreted as a taunt on DMK president M K Stalin , the gesture was uncalled-for and violated basic human dignity, he said. Earlier reporting noted: Rejecting the chief minister’s clarification that there had been no malice behind the act and that it was unintentional, Thirumavalavan said such conduct undermined democratic decency. Political criticism is one thing, but remarks or body language meant to damage personal dignity are entirely different,” he said in his social media post.
Earlier reporting noted: “Harming anyone’s self-respect is unacceptable in a civilised society. Earlier reporting noted: Chennai: VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan on Wednesday criticised chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s hand gesture in the state assembly.
