The main opposition party in Tamil Nadu, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), staged statewide protests on Saturday against the state’s Chief Minister (CM) C Joseph Vijay, condemning the alleged ‘scurrilous remarks’ made by the latter against late party patriarch M Karunanidhi and former CM MK Stalin.

Senior party leader PK Sekar Babu, who led the protest in Chennai, lauded Stalin for his ‘sacrifices, personality and for being humane,’ while calling him ‘Mr Clean,’ who had followed ethics and values throughout his political career.

Babu alleged that such an ‘unblemished leader’ had been targeted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government. He also took exception to Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar’s claims concerning Stalin’s detention during the Emergency imposed between 1975 and 1977.

DMK tears into Vijay over Assembly attack

Babu refuted Vijay’s recent allegations of corruption during the DMK governments led by Karunanidhi and Stalin, calling CM Vijay’s speech ‘cinema-style’ dialogues delivered for over an hour.

He said the DMK had objected to the remarks in the House, but no permission was granted to the Leader of Opposition, Udhayanidhi Stalin to respond to the allegations. Babu remarked, “The DMK is an injured tiger that is standing in the field and one day, everything will be paid back in the same coin.”

The protests surfaced days after the DMK slammed CM Vijay’s Assembly speech, alleging that it had trivalised the party, five-time Chief Minister Karunanidhi, late Union Minister Murasoli Maran and the sacrifices made by party president Stalin.

Vijay takes aim at DMK over alleged corruption

Meanwhile, Vijay launched a scathing, verbal attack on the DMK in the Assembly on September 7, accusing the party of serious and organised corruption during its previous terms in government.

The actor-turned-politician referred to the Sarkaria Commission report while taking an aim at the DMK government headed by Karunanidhi several decades ago. He also drew a reference to Murasoli Maran in this context.

Vijay further cited official documents issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that had been shared with the state government regarding alleged corruption during the DMK’s 2021-2026 tenure. He named former CM MK Stalin and his son, as well as Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin in connection with the allegations.