'Disgusting, Completely Unacceptable': Udhayanidhi Stalin's Remark On Trisha Sparks Row; Vijay's TVK, BJP Hit Out

New Delhi: The Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu, Udayanidhi Stalin, is facing backlash after slogans related to actor Trisha were raised at his rally while he was hitting out at Chief Minister Vijay over his handling of the Cauvery dispute with Karnataka.

Weighing in on the viral footage, TVK MLA Rhevanth Charan termed the remark as “disgusting and unacceptable", charging the DMK leadership with degrading political discourse and engaging in provocation. 

He wrote, “Passing such disgraceful comments against anyone is completely unacceptable. It exposes the mindset, political culture, and declining standards of the Arivalayam clan. Your announced protest collapsed even before it could begin. Now, desperate for attention, you have resorted to cheap provocation and engagement farming.”

Warning the opposition against "continued arrogance and inappropriate behaviour", Charan wrote, "This is precisely why the people of Tamil Nadu rejected you and confined you to the position you are in today. Continue with this arrogance and indecency, and you will soon be erased from public relevance altogether. Even by Arivalayam's already abysmal standards, this is a new low."

Why the row?

Delivering a speech on the Cauvery issue, Udhayanidhi faced interruptions from a crowd chanting "Trisha, Trisha" while he was trying to corner Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

“Not even a drop of Cauvery water has been received. But has the Chief Minister opened his mouth about it? No. He is only concerned with filing “false cases” against the DMK,” Udhayanidhi was heard saying in a video that has gone viral.

Udhayanidhi further paused and smiled as the chanting persisted, delivering a remark that numerous individuals construed as an innuendo directed at actor Trisha, who is a co-star and close friend of Vijay.

“Whether the water reaches anywhere else or not, it should reach there,” before smiling and clarifying that he was referring to the Cauvery.

TVK, BJP hits out

The video of the speech went viral, where Tamil Nadu BJP unit likewise condemned the Leader of the Opposition over the remark, labeling it "disgusting, obscene, vulgar, and shameful."

State BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy also took aim at former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for his silence, demanding Udhayanidhi's arrest and asserting that legal action would bolster Chief Minister Vijay's credibility.

Women panel asked to step in

The ruling party has approached the National Commission for Women (NCW), urging action against Udhayanidhi. 

Characterizing the remarks as "deeply troubling," the TVK stated that the language "normalises the objectification and verbal harassment of women in public spaces," "severely degrades the decorum expected of public figures," and establishes "a dangerous precedent" for how women are treated in public life.

The TVK urged the NCW to formally take cognizance of the speech and rally footage, issue a notice demanding an explanation along with an unconditional public apology, and called for the DMK leader to be booked for public obscenity and outraging the modesty of women.

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