A group of individuals attacked DMK Minister Ponmudi with mud during his visit to Villupuram on Wednesday, 3 December 2024, to distribute relief materials and assess the flood situation caused by Cyclone Fengal. They threw mud at him, staining his white shirt. The incident quickly went viral on social media, with initial reports suggesting that locals expressed anger at the Minister’s presence.
விழுப்புரத்தில் போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ள மக்களிடம் பேச்சுவார்த்தை நடத்த சென்ற திமுக அமைச்சர் பொன்முடி மீது அப்பகுதி மக்கள் சேற்றை வாரி வீசியதாக தகவல் !#Ponmudi #FengalCyclone #DMKFailsTN pic.twitter.com/I0rK533BTX
— Bagavath Pratheep (@Bagavathprathee) December 3, 2024
The mud-throwing took place after Ponmudi arrived in Villupuram as part of the state government’s relief efforts following Cyclone Fengal, which struck the region on 30 November 2024. The cyclone caused widespread damage in Villupuram, breaking over 10 lakes, washing away culverts and roads, and submerging thousands of houses. Agricultural lands were also severely impacted, displacing many people.
Following the cyclone’s destruction, Chief Minister Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin visited flood-affected areas like Marakkanam to provide relief. Ponmudi, along with other officials, visited Iruvelpattu on the Villupuram-Trichy National Highway, where floodwaters severely damaged roads. It was during this visit that his car was blocked by angry residents who were frustrated with the delayed response.
The protesters, who had staged a road blockade, voiced their displeasure with the government’s relief efforts and questioned why officials had not arrived sooner. Police intervened, urging them to clear the blockade. Ponmudi and other officials briefly inspected the affected areas before leaving under pressure.
However, police sources alleged that the assailant was not a local resident but Rama alias Ramakrishnan, a 24-year-old BJP sympathizer. Rama’s father, Ramachandran, is reportedly connected to the BJP, and his sister, Siddhi Vijayarani, is associated with the party. Authorities are investigating whether the incident was politically motivated.
The incident sparked political reactions, with opposition parties criticizing the DMK government’s handling of the crisis. BJP leader Annamalai condemned the government’s negligence, and wrote on his official X handle, “This is the current state of affairs in Tamil Nadu. The CM and the Deputy Chief Minister were busy taking photos in the streets of Chennai while the city received very little rain and did not bother to keep track of the happenings beyond Chennai. The DIPR behaves like the media arm of the DMK and is busy promoting the Gopalapuram scion to divert people from the harsh realities of the flood, a clear sign of the government’s neglect. Today, the public’s frustration reached a boiling point as a Corrupt DMK Minister, Thiru Ponmudi, visited a flood-affected area and was met with a barrage of mud.
He further criticized the DMK for failing to address the public’s growing frustration, evident in the mud-throwing incident, and warned, “This is a gentle reminder for DMK about what is on the offing.”
This is the current state of affairs in Tamil Nadu. The CM and the Deputy Chief Minister were busy taking photos in the streets of Chennai while the city received very little rain and did not bother to keep track of the happenings beyond Chennai. The DIPR behaves like the media… pic.twitter.com/DvZN3UT1f0
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) December 3, 2024
As the investigation into the mud-throwing continues, the ongoing flood relief efforts in Tamil Nadu remain a critical focus.
(With inputs from ABP Nadu)
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