AIADMK protest on women’s safety turns controversial over C Ve Shanmugam’s remark | Chennai News

CHENNAI: What began as a protest by the AIADMK and its allies to project unity and put pressure on the DMK over women’s safety turned controversial after senior AIADMK leader C Ve Shanmugam made a remark referring to a leading actress.Addressing the protest in Villupuram, Shanmugam sought to criticise Chief Minister M K Stalin’s ‘Ungal Kanavu Sollunga’ (Tell us your dream) outreach initiative, invoking former President A P J Abdul Kalam’s call to dream big. He said that while Kalam had encouraged people to dream, the Chief Minister had gone a step further by asking people to share their dreams and promising to fulfil them — a comment that drew criticism after he linked it to a reference to an actress.

While some on the dais laughed, a section of AIADMK cadres and alliance supporters applauded the remark. However, the statement triggered a backlash, with critics pointing out the irony of such comments being made at a protest focused on women’s safety. The ruling party and its IT wing used the remark to target the opposition.This is not the first time the former minister has faced criticism for making personal remarks, even during issue-based protests.