07/09/2026
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday issued a strong warning against the use of abusive, defamatory and degrading language against women, stressing that political criticism should never cross the line into personal attacks. Speaking in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Vijay said that while politicians have every right to criticise one another, women should not be subjected to vulgar or double-meaning remarks in the name of politics.
Vijay made the remarks while concluding the Assembly debate on the demands for grants for the Home Department, which is under his portfolio. Although he did not directly name anyone, his comments came against the backdrop of the ongoing controversy surrounding DMK leader and Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin and an alleged double-meaning remark involving actor Trisha Krishnan.
The Chief Minister said that freedom of speech is an important right in a democracy, but questioned how that freedom is being exercised in political discourse. He appealed to political leaders not to demean people, women or anyone else through extremely low and degrading language.
Vijay observed that Tamil Nadu had recently witnessed what he described as a growing “river of vulgarity” and “river of hatred”. He criticised the use of abusive language against women, defamatory statements and double-meaning words, saying that such conduct was unacceptable.
He further appealed to those making such comments to remember the women in their own families before speaking. Vijay emphasised that political criticism can be sharp and even harsh, but that should not become an excuse for making defamatory or obscene remarks against women.
“Women are the main reason behind my political victory,” Vijay said, highlighting the role played by women voters in his rise to power. He made it clear that he would not tolerate abusive language directed at women and added that while strong political criticism was legitimate, defamatory remarks against women had no place in public life.
Vijay also warned that the law would take its course whenever women were insulted through obscene or defamatory comments. His statement was therefore not merely framed as a political appeal but also as a warning that such remarks could have legal consequences.
The Chief Minister's comments came weeks after a controversy erupted over remarks allegedly made by Udhayanidhi Stalin during a Cauvery-related protest in Thanjavur. During the event, members of the gathering reportedly chanted Trisha's name while Stalin was speaking. He paused and made a comment that critics interpreted as an indirect and vulgar reference to the actor.
The controversy subsequently escalated into a political confrontation between the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the opposition DMK. Udhayanidhi was arrested in connection with the case and later released on station bail after being questioned by the police. The DMK, however, maintained that his remarks had been misinterpreted and alleged that an edited version of his speech was being circulated with political motives. Stalin also denied having made any objectionable or malicious comment about women and maintained that his remarks were connected to the Cauvery issue and farmers' concerns.
Vijay did not directly mention Udhayanidhi or Trisha while speaking in the Assembly. Instead, he presented his remarks as a broader appeal for restraint and political responsibility. However, the timing of his statement and his reference to double-meaning comments made the context of his remarks clear.
The Chief Minister also brought up the treatment allegedly faced by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa inside the Assembly in 1989. Vijay described the episode as one of the darkest moments in the history of the House and argued that political differences should never be allowed to justify humiliation or unacceptable behaviour towards women.
He also referred to remarks about “breaking bones” while criticising the language used by political opponents. Vijay suggested that such statements demonstrated a disregard for the people's democratic mandate and said voters ultimately have the power to judge political parties through elections. His references to the political history of Tamil Nadu were met with protests from DMK members inside the Assembly.
Vijay's speech therefore combined a warning against personal attacks on women with a broader criticism of the political culture surrounding public discourse. While acknowledging that politicians are free to engage in strong criticism, he maintained that personal abuse, vulgarity and defamatory comments should not be treated as part of legitimate political debate.
The controversy has once again brought the issue of political language and the treatment of women in public life into focus. Vijay's remarks underline his government's stated position that political disagreements may be fierce, but they should not descend into personal humiliation or derogatory comments targeting women.