DMK leader makes transphobic statement against BJP TN head, NCTP takes cognizance

The National Council for Transgender Person has pulled up Saidai Sadiq, a functionary of the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, for his unsavoury and transphobic remarks about BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai.

Speaking at a public event recently, DMK politician Saidai Sadiq, called Mr. Annamalai with the transphobic slur “9” (or) “ombodhu”.

“There is one guy called Annamalai. He looks like someone who falls between the numbers 8 and 10. Which number falls between 8 and 10? 9 (ombodhu, a transphobic slur). He looks like that only.” the DMK leader said.

“Such a comment by the DMK politician is highly condemnable and disgraceful. It even violates the principle of equality enshrined in the Constitution of India and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which has been implemented to protect against any sort of discrimination and unfair treatment against a Transgender Person.”, Gopi Shankar Madurai, the Souther Representative of the National Council for Transgender Persons said in a statement.

Stating that not condemning such statements will set a degrading example against the violation of Transgender Right, Gopi Shankar Madura has called for immediate action to be taken against the DMK leader by suspending him.

“I also seek an immediate cognizance of the issue from the Superintendent of Police and lodge an FIR against the DMK politician Saidai Sadiq under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.”, the statement said.

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