CM Vijay Clarifies Assembly Gesture Was Inadvertent, Denies Mocking M K Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay clarified on Tuesday that placing his hand against his jaw during an address in the state Assembly in Chennai was an inadvertent gesture and was not intended to mock former Chief Minister and DMK chief M K Stalin.

The controversy arose following Vijay's speech on Monday in the Assembly, where he delivered his reply to the demands for grants for the police and fire service department. During the address, Vijay placed his hand against his jaw, prompting allegations from critics that he was deliberately mocking a jaw injury that Stalin reportedly sustained while imprisoned during the Emergency.

The action triggered strong political backlash, with critics calling the gesture body shaming. DMK members in the House registered their opposition by storming the well and besieging the chair of Assembly Speaker J C D Prabhakar. The CPM, which extends support to the TVK government, also criticized the gesture, while reactions on social media similarly described the display as being in bad taste.

In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Vijay sought to clear the air regarding the incident. He stated that the body language termed offensive by some was not deliberate but something that occurred inadvertently, reiterating that it was not intended to cause hurt.

The Chief Minister requested people not to interpret the gesture as an act aimed at hurting the feelings of anyone at a personal level.