Udhayanidhi Stalin denies misogyny charge, says arrest aimed at diverting attention from farmers' issues
DMK youth wing leader and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, who was released on station bail on Tuesday night after being arrested on a complaint of making misogynistic remarks, has asserted that he had no intention of hurting or disparaging anyone, especially women. He accused the state government of foisting the case against him to divert attention from issues faced by farmers that he had raised during a protest in Thanjavur on August 3.
Speaking to journalists before boarding a flight to Chennai at the Tiruchi International Airport, Mr. Stalin said, “My parents did not raise me like that. I have a wife, daughter, sister and a family. I treat all women as my family, mother or sibling.” He thanked DMK president M. K. Stalin, party office bearers and alliance leaders who “understood” him and condemned his arrest.
“My only regret is some leaders, without hearing or examining my speech fully, have condemned my remarks as wrong. I did not speak in double entendre as alleged by some. I spoke straight. I only said water has not been released in the Cauvery and wanted it to be released in the river. I will say this again and again and will not be cowed down by such foisted cases. I will face this legally,” he asserted.
Mr. Udhayanidhi further claimed that the present government, as a policy, used diversionary tactics to divert public attention from burning issues. He termed the government a “circus” and said the case was foisted for speaking in favour of farmers. He also alleged that his remarks were misrepresented and spread on national media.
“On Tuesday morning, they cut and paste what I had not spoke and spread it even in national media. They arrested me and took me all the way to Sengipatti as if I was a terrorist. They let me off after asking various queries,” he said.
Responding to a question about Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, Mr. Udhayanidhi said the CM did not know the history of DMK. “The people are watching and they will give a fitting reply,” he maintained. Asked about the DMK’s strategy going forward, he said he and other party leaders would meet party president M. K. Stalin and act according to his advice.
