Vijay launches sharp criticism on DMK over attacks on women during bypoll campaign
TVK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched a sharp attack on the DMK during his final campaign in Dharapuram, warning that he would not remain silent if women in his family or political circle were subjected to personal attacks.
Addressing voters while seeking support for TVK candidate P. Sathyabama, Vijay said he was prepared to face criticism directed at him but would respond strongly to comments targeting women.
He alleged that recent remarks by DMK president M.K. Stalin and other party leaders had crossed the limits of political criticism. Vijay specifically referred to comments that he claimed were directed at Sathyabama in a derogatory manner.
Vijay also accused other DMK leaders of following what he described as the same line of rhetoric and argued that public debate should not descend into personal humiliation.
He recalled his earlier appeal to voters to consider the way political leaders speak about women, insisting that it was not merely a campaign strategy.
The TVK chief also defended his interactions with members of the public outside formal election programmes. He said he would continue meeting people and relatives whenever he wished, rejecting criticism of such interactions.
Vijay concluded by stressing that political differences should not become an excuse for personal attacks, particularly those directed at women.