The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has rallied behind party leader Udhayanidhi Stalin after his alleged remarks about actor Trisha triggered a political controversy in Tamil Nadu.
Udhayanidhi was arrested following a complaint filed by the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which accused him of making an inappropriate double entendre during a farmers' protest in Thanjavur.
Defending the DMK leader, party spokesperson TKS Elangovan said Udhayanidhi's speech focused solely on criticising the state government's performance and did not contain any derogatory reference to Trisha.
"I listened to his entire speech. Nothing was said as people are claiming. He only listed the Chief Minister's failures. There was nothing insulting in his speech. He did not even mention the name of the actor (Trisha). He was only attacking the government," Elangovan said.
Accusing the ruling dispensation of using the controversy to target the opposition, he added, "The problem with this government is that it does not care about the people of Tamil Nadu. They are being used by someone to attack the DMK. Their party was formed only to oppose us."
DMK Rajya Sabha MP P. Wilson also came to Udhayanidhi's defence, alleging that the FIR and subsequent arrest were intended to divert public attention from farmers' issues and the Cauvery water dispute.
"Anyone who heard the speech will know that no such remarks were made. The government itself has planted this story to sidetrack the farmers' issue. The allegations are false and fabricated," Wilson said, describing Udhayanidhi's arrest as an "atrocious act."
Senior DMK leader R.S. Bharathi echoed the party's stand, claiming that Udhayanidhi had merely discharged his political responsibilities and alleging that the police action amounted to contempt of court.
"He was detained for doing his political duty. They will have to answer for this. The people will not tolerate it. We will fight this. He did not mention Trisha's name," Bharathi said.
The controversy erupted after TVK alleged that Udhayanidhi made an inappropriate innuendo about Trisha during a farmers' protest rally in Thanjavur after sections of the crowd chanted the actor's name.
TVK has since announced statewide protests and filed a complaint with the Thanjavur East Police Station. The party has also approached the National Commission for Women (NCW), seeking action against Udhayanidhi over the alleged remarks.
