Social media is once again up in arms over the ongoing abuse perpetuated by controversial Dravidian journalist-turned-YouTuber Mukthar Ahmed, who continues to create content videos that objectify and demean women. The latest target of his vile antics is actress Kasthuri Shankar. In a recent video, Mukthar shamelessly used a glamorous image of Kasthuri Shankar in his video thumbnail, accompanied by a caption that callously labeled her as a “pros*itute.”
This incident follows a troubling pattern in Mukthar’s behavior. During a recent interview with former BJP member S. Ve. Shekher, Mukthar attempted to provoke controversial statements, much like he did in a previous interview with Dravidian ideologist Dr. Kantharaj. However, this time the interview remained relatively tame, with Mukthar only pushing Shekher to the edge in an effort to create scandal.
The entire video seemed designed to damage the reputation of the Tamil Nadu BJP, specifically targeting its chief K. Annamalai and actress Kasthuri Shankar, while attempting to paint the DMK in a more favorable light. Mukthar Ahmed appeared to be angling for controversy throughout the interview, trying to provoke negative statements about the BJP and Kasthuri. However, S Ve Shekher did not bite on those attempts. Instead, when Mukthar pushed him on the DMK, Shekher praised the party, particularly highlighting its positively among Brahmins, which Mukthar used to promote the DMK’s image further.
Even after the interview, Mukthar Ahmed continued to shamelessly target actress Kasthuri Shankar by using a derogatory image of her in his video thumbnail, along with a provocative title that read: “What kind of Dravidia is Kasthuri, the actress who acts outrageously and obscenely?” This was yet another attempt to objectify and demean her.
Despite existing laws and regulations aimed at protecting women from objectification and preserving their dignity, the Tamil Nadu police have remained silent in response to these scandalous attacks by Mukhtar Ahmed who shares close ties with DMK. Recently, the police even issued statements warning that using inappropriate or offensive images could result in punishment. Yet, critics are now questioning why this same level of accountability is not being applied to Mukthar Ahmed, especially given the clear harm his actions are causing. The silence surrounding his behavior is raising serious concerns.
What kind of a statement is this ? @mkstalin are you going to encourage such statements about a lady ? @tnpoliceoffl Being mute spectators to such abominable acts will embolden anti social elements to indulge audaciously in acts that outrage the modesty of a woman ! pic.twitter.com/Y3eeHHUHrv
— karthik gopinath (@karthikgnath) November 9, 2024
பெண்களை இழிவாக பேசும் இவன் மீது சட்ட நடவடிக்கை எடுக்குமா திமுக ? 🤦🏽♂️#Annamalai | #DMKFailsTN | #Amaran pic.twitter.com/pyyl3H7GoT
— ᴋᴀʀᴛʜɪ (@SaffronTwitz) November 9, 2024
This is not the first time Mukthar Ahmed has targeted Kasthuri Shankar. In a prior video featuring Dr. Kantharaj, Kasthuri’s image was added to the YouTube banner after the fact, despite her not being mentioned in the actual content of the interview. The deliberate inclusion of her picture in a degrading context was clearly intended to demean and insult her.
Mukthar has also previously attacked actress Radhika Sarath Kumar in another video on a separate YouTube channel, following her and her husband’s political merger with the BJP. These incidents are part of a disturbing pattern of harassment that Mukthar has engaged in across multiple videos.
Although Mukthar positions himself as a political commentator, his content often crosses the line into hate speech. He has repeatedly attacked Brahmins and Hindus while taking shots at opposition parties like the BJP and AIADMK, all while protecting himself under the banner of the DMK.
Social media users have pointed out the double standard in the way figures like Mukthar are treated compared to other YouTubers. For instance, YouTuber Savukku Shankar was arrested for making provocative comments, and Felix Gerald was held accountable for facilitating his remarks that demeaned women police officers. Critics argue that similar action should be taken against Mukthar and his controversial statements, particularly those targeting women.
It’s also worth noting that Mukthar Ahmed is a Dravidian “journalist” with connections to the DMK’s top leadership, further fueling the belief that political affiliations protect his actions.
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