After the Election Commission issued a show-cause notice against DMK leader A Raja, asking him to explain his stance over his remarks against Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi Palaniswami’s mother, Raja responded by calling the remarks “simile”. He asked for the full text of his speech to be considered so that it “wipes out the insult and consequent injury inflicted” on him, reported news agency ANI on Wednesday, 31 March.
Raja had been asked to provide an explanation on or before 6 pm on Wednesday, 31 March.
“In Tamil oratory, simile is a well-accepted norm. In my speech, evolution of the political heights and their means of MK Stalin and Edappadi Palanisamy were compared by me through a simile as newborn babies for the easy understanding of the common mass,” he said in his response.
“This was in response to the repeated allegations of the CM that MK Stalin has never worked hard to become the leader. Hence, if the full text is considered by the committee, I am hopeful that it will wipe out the insult and the consequent injury inflicted on me,” he added, according to ANI.
On Monday, the Tamil Nadu (TN) Chief Electoral Officer had sent a report to the EC pertaining to the purported remarks made by Raja. The report, according to ANI, was based on inputs given by district election officials.
MEANWHILE
Raja apologised on Monday for his recent statement against Palaniswami’s mother, while campaigning in the Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai last week.
The apology comes after Palaniswami got emotional during a rally, and said, “If a chief minister is disrespected in such a way then imagine the things that will happen to a common man if such people come to power.”
He also said that the statement is not only against his mother but every mother, and that the people who speak in a derogatory manner about women must learn a lesson.
BUT WHAT HAD A RAJA ORIGINALLY SAID?
A Raja had, during a campaign, had purportedly said: “Let’s compare DMK President Stalin and Edappadi K Palaniswami. In 23 years, Stalin went to jail under MISA rule. Then he served as a district secretary in the party, general committee member, youth wing secretary, treasurer, then working president and then president of DMK.”
“He became a leader and has served as an MLA, then Chennai’s Mayor, state Minister, Deputy CM and now he is going to become a CM,” he said.
“That’s why in the villages I say, if Stalin is someone who was born out a ‘rightful’ marriage, Edappadi Palaniswami – who no one knew until Jayalalithaa’s death and has not reached any heights in public life – is a premature baby born out of an illicit affair in politics,” he added.
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