If you speak against our sisters, mothers...: Vijay to Stalin over Sathyabama row

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK president C Joseph Vijay on Sunday warned the DMK against making remarks about women in his family, saying he would tolerate personal attacks but “will not stay quiet” if women were targeted.Vijay was addressing voters during a roadshow in the Dharapuram Assembly constituency in support of TVK candidate P Sathyabama ahead of the October 6 bypoll.Taking aim at the DMK and its president MK Stalin, Vijay said political attacks against women had crossed a line.“

Say whatever you want about me. I will take it. But if you dare speak against our sister, or against the mothers, sisters, and daughters of our households, I will not stay quiet,” Vijay said.‘ WHAT DID STALIN SAY ABOUT OUR SISTER SATHYABAMA?’ Vijay referred to recent remarks by Stalin that he and his party leaders have described as body-shaming Sathyabama, the TVK candidate contesting the Dharapuram bypoll.“ Stalin sir came here, what did he say?

See what he has said about our sister Sathyabama,” Vijay said.“ What kind of vile speech did he make against our sister, Sathyabama? It was so vulgar that one cannot even bear to listen to it,” he added.Vijay also attacked others in the DMK, accusing them of using similar rhetoric.“ And is he the only one speaking like this? Every single person he has nurtured and brought up is delivering the exact same cheap rhetoric,” he said.Vijay said his earlier appeal to voters to consider the language used against women was not merely a political tactic.“

I told you earlier if you vote for the DMK and certain others, it amounts to endorsing those who speak obscenely about women and humiliate them in public spaces. I didn't say that just to score political points. Look at what happened the day before yesterday,” he said.‘ I’M NOT SOMEONE WHO MEETS PEOPLE ONLY DURING ELECTIONS’Vijay also defended his interactions with people outside election campaigns.“ I’m not the person who comes to meet people only during election,” he said.“

I’ll meet my relatives whenever I want, why do you care?” he added.He reiterated that the political discourse should not cross the line into personal attacks on women.VIJAY TAKES 40-KM ROADSHOW ROUTEVijay began his roadshow in Dharapuram around 1 pm in his customised caravan. The campaign was expected to cover around 40 km and more than 20 public-contact points before campaigning ended at 6 pm on Sunday.He landed in Coimbatore by a special flight before travelling to Dharapuram by helicopter.

The reserved Assembly constituency is in Tiruppur district.Vijay was received by senior TVK leaders, including party general secretary and Rural Development and Water Resources Minister N Anand and Revenue and Disaster Management Minister K A Sengottaiyan.During the roadshow, Vijay interacted with voters and also took a short bullock cart ride. Supporters presented him with flowers, garlands and party towels.At Moolanur Vanjiamman shrine, Vijay offered prayers and received traditional temple honours.At another point along the route, he walked for a short distance, waving to people and TVK supporters gathered on either side of the road.

Supporters also showered flower petals on him.The campaign route covered key stretches including Periyar statue junction, Five Roads junction, Meenakshipuram, Kulathupalayam and Karaiyur.SECOND CAMPAIGN VISIT TO DHARAPURAMSunday's roadshow was Vijay's second campaign visit to Dharapuram after his September 30 rally.The TVK chief also invoked late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran while speaking about his warning to political opponents.“

This marks a return to the era of MGR,” Vijay said.BYPOLLS ON OCTOBER 6Polling in Dharapuram and Madurantakam constituencies will be held on October 6, with counting scheduled for October 9. The bypolls were necessitated after the then AIADMK MLAs from the two constituencies, K Maragatham Kumaravel and Sathyabama, resigned as legislators and joined TVK.Vijay has fielded both former AIADMK legislators as TVK candidates from their respective constituencies.- Ends