Senior DMK leader and Member of Parliament TR Baalu has triggered controversy after making remarks that appeared to glorify sickle-wielding violence while speaking at a public meeting organized by the DMK in Tambaram to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
The event was held on Shanmugam Road under the banner of the Tambaram City DMK. Among those present on the stage were T.R. Baalu, former MP Kambam Selvendran, former MLAs Raja and Karunanidhi, Tambaram Mayor Vasanthakumari and other party functionaries.
During his speech, Baalu launched a broadside against the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government and mocked calls for giving the new administration six months before subjecting it to criticism.
Referring to Chief Minister Vijay’s appeal for time to govern, Baalu said, “I am asking this. The Chief Minister himself says the government needs six months’ time. Then why are you disturbing him within that period? Don’t disturb him.”
He then continued with a sarcastic attack, “Leave him alone for six months. If you ask what mistake we are making, the biggest flaw in our movement from the beginning has been that we don’t allow them to make mistakes. We should not point out their mistakes. Let things continue as they are.”
Taking the sarcasm further, Baalu suggested that political opponents should simply watch mistakes unfold rather than warn the government in advance.
He said, “If someone is heading towards disaster, you should just keep watching until they collapse. Instead, you people warn them in advance. You shouldn’t warn them.”
He continued, “If someone is about to fall, you rush forward and save them. No, they should fall. They should fall completely and suffer the consequences. Only then will it be right.”
During another segment of the event, a party functionary was reportedly listing crimes and murders that had taken place under the present administration. Baalu repeated that and confused by the term “double murder” and questioned its meaning.
He said, “He keeps saying double murder. What does double murder mean? Do they kill the same person twice? Is double murder two murders? Do they kill one person twice?”
Baalu also spoke about the challenges of understanding the Union Government and questioned how long it would take Chief Minister Vijay to comprehend national politics.
He said, “I don’t know how long it will take for you to understand the Central Government. Even after working for decades, we still cannot fully understand what kind of people they are.”
He added, “When will you start politics? When will you understand them? When will you perform your duties? When will you do something for Tamil Nadu?”
He continued, “There are thousands of tasks that need to be done for Tamil Nadu. We understand that you need time to do them.”
However, it was another section of his speech that has drawn the most attention and criticism online.
Addressing former MP Kambam Selvendran, who was seated on the stage, Baalu said, “What are you afraid of? A man from the south should never be afraid.”
He then added: “When a man from the south comes, people expect him to come carrying a sickle. But here I am, having come empty-handed.”
Continuing in the same vein, Baalu made the remark that has since gone viral on social media: “When people from the south come, they should come carrying a big sickle and chop down four people before leaving.”
He followed it up by telling Selvendran: “I expected you to come carrying a sickle. Instead, you’ve come empty-handed.”
Baalu further remarked: “Looking at the way things are going, I think four people may end up chopping you instead.”
Video clips of the speech quickly spread across social media platforms, triggering criticism and ridicule.
Many netizens questioned why a senior parliamentarian was invoking imagery of sickle-wielding violence while speaking at a public political event. Others pointed out the contrast between political leaders enjoying positions of power and ordinary supporters being encouraged to embrace a culture associated with violence.
TR Baalu and his son, former Tamil Nadu Minister TRB Rajaa, study, wear coats and suits, hold positions of authority and lecture society, while people from southern Tamil Nadu are apparently expected to carry sickles, attack others and end up in prison.
One wonders why Baalu would not hand a sickle to his own son if he believed such conduct represented courage.
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