Udhayanidhi Stalin detained over 'vulgar' Trisha remarks
Udhayanidhi Stalin was detained from his Chennai home on Tuesday after police registered a case over allegedly vulgar remarks about actor Trisha at a Cauvery protest in Thanjavur. The DMK Leader of Opposition faces an FIR filed on a TVK complaint and is being taken to Thanjavur.
Key Takeaways
- Police detained Udhayanidhi Stalin from his Neelankarai residence in Chennai on Tuesday.
- The case stems from remarks at Monday's Cauvery water dispute rally in Thanjavur.
- Thanjavur police filed an FIR after a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) complaint.
- TVK told the National Commission for Women the comments were "vulgar" and "objectifying."
- He sought anticipatory bail in the Madras High Court and called the case "forged."
Why was Udhayanidhi Stalin detained?
According to The Times of India, a police team led by Joint Commissioner Dr P Vijayakumar took the DMK leader into custody from his home and escorted him in a police vehicle.
He is to be taken to Thanjavur, where the FIR was registered over his speech at Monday's rally on the Cauvery water dispute. The detention followed a complaint by ruling party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.
For more celebrity and political flashpoints, see our Celebrity Breaking News hub.
What did Udhayanidhi Stalin say about Trisha?
At the Thanjavur protest, sections of the crowd began chanting "Trisha, Trisha." After a brief pause, Udhayanidhi Stalin allegedly remarked that whether the water reaches anywhere else or not, it should reach there, then added that he was referring to Cauvery water.
Opposition parties accused him of a double-entendre aimed at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay while answering slogans from party workers. The Hindu said the viral video remarks sit in the realm of vulgarity, not humour, in public discourse.
NDTV reported that TVK described the comments as offensive double-meaning remarks and vulgar innuendos targeting a prominent female public figure.
How have TVK and others responded?
TVK approached the National Commission for Women, alleging the remarks were vulgar, objectifying and sexually suggestive. The party sought legal action, an unconditional public apology and commission intervention.
TVK national spokesperson Pazha Selvakumar said the comments objectified women and lowered standards of political discourse. The party urged the NCW to examine the video and recommend action for alleged public obscenity and outraging the modesty of women.
BJP leaders also condemned the speech. Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy called it disgusting, obscene and vulgar, and said imprisoning Udhayanidhi Stalin would bring credit to the state.
What legal steps followed the remarks?
Thanjavur police registered an FIR citing charges of promoting enmity between groups, provisions of the Information Technology Act, and the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act.
Udhayanidhi Stalin moved the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail. When the matter was mentioned before Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan, the court agreed to hear the urgent plea and orally directed police not to precipitate the issue until the petition was taken up.
Speaking after detention, he dismissed the case as forged and said he would fight it legally. He alleged that since the TVK government came to power, it had been filing fake cases against DMK MLAs and indulging in horse-trading.