'They would kick us': Stalin takes on Vijay over 'jaw gesture', recalls Emergency-era prison days
NEW DELHI: DMK president MK Stalin on Thursday hit back at Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay over his recent remarks in the state assembly, accusing him of attempting to demean the party and its leaders while recalling his arrest and alleged custodial torture during the Emergency .
Responding to Vijay’s criticism of the DMK, Stalin said the party’s history and its ideological struggle could not be changed by political attacks.
“Thambi Vijay, what you said is true. It is not a lie. During the Emergency, opposing it, leader Kalaignar organized a huge gathering at the Marina beach and severely criticized the MISA Act,” Stalin said in a video message shared on X.
His remarks came after Vijay launched a strong attack on the DMK in the assembly on Wednesday, accusing previous governments of corruption and referring to the Sarkaria Commission as well as Enforcement Directorate documents concerning alleged corruption during the 2021-26 regime.
Stalin recalled that the Union government dismissed the DMK government on January 31, 1976, during the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government.
“The very next second after dismissing the government, police came to the Gopalapuram house to arrest me under the MISA Act,” Stalin said, recounting how his father and former chief minister M Karunanidhi told police that his son was away campaigning and would return the next day.
Stalin said that after he returned, Karunanidhi himself called the police and asked them to arrest him.
Recalling his time in prison, Stalin alleged that he was subjected to severe physical abuse and was kept with other prisoners in a small room where leprosy patients had earlier been housed.
“In prison, many atrocities happened to me. We were taken and locked up in a place where leprosy patients were kept. Ten people were locked inside a small room. Inside that same room, in a single pot, all of us had to urinate,” he said.
Stalin alleged that police beat prisoners with lathis at night, kicked them with boots and that other inmates also assaulted them. He recalled the death of DMK leader and former MP Chitti Babu, whom he said died in jail following the beatings.
“Due to their beating, my dear brother, Member of Parliament Chitti Babu, died inside the jail itself. Due to their beating, my jawbone was broken,” Stalin said.
The DMK has condemned Vijay’s remarks and announced a statewide protest on September 12, accusing the chief minister of making “scurrilous remarks” against Stalin, Karunanidhi and other party leaders.
Law minister R Nirmal Kumar, however, has disputed Stalin’s account, saying there was no official record to indicate that his detention during the Emergency was under MISA. The minister said Stalin was arrested following remarks concerning Indira Gandhi and her 20-point programme.
Stalin also rejected Vijay’s allegations relating to the Sarkaria Commission and corruption charges against Karunanidhi, arguing that successive governments would have acted if the allegations had been established.
Turning to Vijay’s conduct in the Assembly, Stalin urged him to maintain the dignity expected of a chief minister and focus on governance rather than political controversies.
“The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has dignity and respect. It is a place sculpted by many great leaders, great men. That responsibility is now with you,” Stalin said.
Responding to Vijay’s criticism of the DMK, Stalin said the party’s history and its ideological struggle could not be changed by political attacks.
“Thambi Vijay, what you said is true. It is not a lie. During the Emergency, opposing it, leader Kalaignar organized a huge gathering at the Marina beach and severely criticized the MISA Act,” Stalin said in a video message shared on X.
His remarks came after Vijay launched a strong attack on the DMK in the assembly on Wednesday, accusing previous governments of corruption and referring to the Sarkaria Commission as well as Enforcement Directorate documents concerning alleged corruption during the 2021-26 regime.
Stalin recalled that the Union government dismissed the DMK government on January 31, 1976, during the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government.
“The very next second after dismissing the government, police came to the Gopalapuram house to arrest me under the MISA Act,” Stalin said, recounting how his father and former chief minister M Karunanidhi told police that his son was away campaigning and would return the next day.
Stalin said that after he returned, Karunanidhi himself called the police and asked them to arrest him.
Recalling his time in prison, Stalin alleged that he was subjected to severe physical abuse and was kept with other prisoners in a small room where leprosy patients had earlier been housed.
“In prison, many atrocities happened to me. We were taken and locked up in a place where leprosy patients were kept. Ten people were locked inside a small room. Inside that same room, in a single pot, all of us had to urinate,” he said.
Stalin alleged that police beat prisoners with lathis at night, kicked them with boots and that other inmates also assaulted them. He recalled the death of DMK leader and former MP Chitti Babu, whom he said died in jail following the beatings.
“Due to their beating, my dear brother, Member of Parliament Chitti Babu, died inside the jail itself. Due to their beating, my jawbone was broken,” Stalin said.
The DMK has condemned Vijay’s remarks and announced a statewide protest on September 12, accusing the chief minister of making “scurrilous remarks” against Stalin, Karunanidhi and other party leaders.
Law minister R Nirmal Kumar, however, has disputed Stalin’s account, saying there was no official record to indicate that his detention during the Emergency was under MISA. The minister said Stalin was arrested following remarks concerning Indira Gandhi and her 20-point programme.
Stalin also rejected Vijay’s allegations relating to the Sarkaria Commission and corruption charges against Karunanidhi, arguing that successive governments would have acted if the allegations had been established.
Turning to Vijay’s conduct in the Assembly, Stalin urged him to maintain the dignity expected of a chief minister and focus on governance rather than political controversies.
“The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has dignity and respect. It is a place sculpted by many great leaders, great men. That responsibility is now with you,” Stalin said.
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