BJP national secretary H. Raja on Wednesday triggered a row by insinuating in a tweet that DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi was an “illegitimate child”. His tweet drew an angry response from DMK cadre, who set his effigy afire at some places. Other political leaders also condemned his remarks.
A day after Governor Banwarilal Purohit addressed a press conference, Mr. Raja tweeted asking whether the journalists who raised many questions at the press meet would come forward to pose similar questions “to a leader who had nominated his illegitimate child to Rajya Sabha.” Though he did not name Ms. Kanimozhi, the reference was too obvious. “They will not. The memories of Chidambaram Udayakumar, Anna Nagar Ramesh and Perambalur Sathik Batcha would intimidate them,” he said in his tweet, referring to the death of these persons under controversial circumstances.
Reacting to his tweet, Ms. Kanimozhi said it showed an “ugly male chauvinistic mindset”. “It is happening to women not just in politics, but in every other field. Men either seek to patronise them like Mr. Purohit, or intimidate them to leave their chosen field,” she told The Hindu when asked about Mr. Raja’s comments.
Ms. Kanimozhi said she did not wish to join issue with Mr. Raja and it was for the BJP leadership to explain their stand on his remarks.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited my father at his Gopalapuram residence and had also met me. Let the BJP leadership decide what they want to do about Mr. Raja. I am not going to file any complaint. The party should ensure that such incidents do not take place in the future,” she said.
‘Mean-minded person’
DMK working president M.K. Stalin said he did not want to denigrate himself by responding to a mean-minded person.
Former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram tweeted in support of Ms. Kanimozhi, saying, “There is no such thing as an ‘illegitimate child.’ All children are perfectly legitimate. Will the BJP please explain where it stands?”
In Sivaganga, CPI State secretary R. Mutharasan condemned Mr. Raja for his remarks and said it was “a grave mistake to allow the BJP leader to roam around freely in the country.”
In Ramanathapuram, DMK district secretary Suba Tha Diwakaran threatened to cut off Mr. Raja’s tongue for the “insulting remarks”.
