Synopsis
AIADMK's women's wing, led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami, will protest on April 16 against Tamil Nadu Minister K. Ponmudy for his disrespectful remarks regarding women. The protest aims to condemn his offensive comments and highlight the need for decency in politics.Key Takeaways
- Protest scheduled on April 16 against Minister Ponmudy.
- Led by former ministers B. Valarmathi and S. Gokula Indira.
- Palaniswami accuses DMK leaders of disrespecting women.
- Public outrage over Ponmudy's vulgar remarks.
- Calls for Ponmudy’s resignation from the cabinet.
Chennai, April 12 (NationPress) AIADMK general secretary and Leader of the Opposition, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, has declared that the party’s women’s wing will conduct a protest on April 16 against Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K. Ponmudy for his alleged derogatory remarks about women.
The demonstration will occur near Panagal Maligai in Saidapet and will be spearheaded by former ministers B. Valarmathi and S. Gokula Indira, as stated by Palaniswami.
Condemning the minister’s controversial statements, Palaniswami accused multiple DMK leaders of making disrespectful comments towards women and religious sentiments.
He asserted that Ponmudy’s remarks have incited considerable outrage among the people of Tamil Nadu, particularly women.
“Ponmudy, who previously held the Higher Education portfolio, has sparked widespread concern and indignation with his offensive speech. This protest aims to vehemently condemn his statements and highlight that there is no room for indecent politics in our state,” he noted.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has recently dismissed Ponmudy from his role as Deputy General Secretary amidst the backlash.
His remarks—made during a recent party workers’ meeting in Chennai—were deemed vulgar and offensive towards the Shaivite and Vaishnavite communities.
DMK MP and senior leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi publicly denounced Ponmudy’s statements, labeling them as “unacceptable.”
In a post on social media platform X, she expressed: “Minister Ponmudy’s recent speech is unacceptable. Regardless of the context, such vulgar remarks are condemnable.”
The controversy unfolded after a video went viral showing Ponmudy using a sexually explicit analogy involving a prostitute to mock religious practices.
He also mocked sacred Hindu symbols, referring to the Shaivite horizontal tilak as a “lying down position” and the Vaishnavite vertical tilak as a “standing position,” reducing spiritual symbols to crass innuendos.
Singer and activist Chinmayi Sripada also criticized the minister, stating: “This is Forest Minister Ponmudy from Tamil Nadu. He previously held the Science and Technology and Education portfolios. He considers this a ‘joke’ because there’s a market for such speeches at public gatherings. Unfortunately, the real joke is on us.”
The BJP has also condemned Ponmudy’s remarks, with Tamil Nadu Vice-President Narayanan Thirupathy demanding the minister’s removal from the cabinet.
“It is disgraceful that Minister Ponmudy remains in his position. CM Stalin, will you order Ponmudy’s arrest? He has tarnished the dignity of women in Tamil Nadu with his statements,” Thirupathy commented, while also appreciating Kanimozhi’s condemnation.
This isn’t the first time Ponmudy has faced criticism. Previously, he sparked outrage by linking North Indian migrants to the sale of pani puri in Coimbatore, implying that those advocating for Hindi end up in low-paying jobs.
Despite being stripped of his senior party position, Ponmudy has not issued any public apology or statement regarding his comments.
