A controversy has arisen after the DMK government in Tamil Nadu allocated a house to lyricist Vairamuthu, who is facing sexual harassment allegations from over 20 women. The decision to include Vairamuthu in the list of recipients under the ‘Dream House’ scheme, intended to honor renowned writers, has sparked criticism and accusations of favoritism.
The Tamil Nadu government introduced the ‘Dream House’ initiative to honor writers from the state who have received national and international accolades for their literary contributions. The scheme aims to provide houses to eligible award-winning writers, regardless of their association with the government or other employment status.
The inclusion of Vairamuthu, who has been accused of sexual harassment by multiple women during the #MeToo movement, has ignited controversy. Critics argue that Vairamuthu’s close ties to the DMK party and Chief Minister MK Stalin may have influenced his selection. Some allege that Vairamuthu has already received three houses in the past from the DMK government, questioning the decision to grant him another house.
கவிஞருக்கு இந்த மூணு வீடு போதாதா ? கொஞ்சமாச்சும் மனசாட்சி இருக்கா உங்களுக்கு ? யார் அப்பா வீட்டு பணம் ? @CMOTamilnadu pic.twitter.com/mCgI0tPbzu
— Savukku Shankar (@Veera284) June 8, 2023
Many individuals have voiced their disappointment with the government’s decision to allocate a house to sexual harassment accused. Singer Chinmayi accused Vairamuthu of sexually harassing her during a professional interaction. Her accusation gained significant attention and sparked a larger conversation about workplace harassment and abuse of power in the Tamil film industry. The incident led to a number of other women coming forward with their own allegations against Vairamuthu and other individuals in the industry.
Critics have pointed out the apparent hypocrisy of Chief Minister MK Stalin, who recently expressed support for a protest against a wrestling federation chief accused of misconduct. The decision to honor Vairamuthu, despite the serious allegations against him, has drawn public backlash. Netizens and critics have questioned the consistency of the government’s stance on sexual harassment issues and called for greater accountability.
The inclusion of lyricist Vairamuthu, who faces multiple sexual harassment allegations, in the ‘Dream House’ scheme has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the Tamil Nadu government’s decision-making process.
(with inputs from Hindustan Times)
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