At a public interaction, DMK Member of Parliament A Raja faced pointed questions from the audience over Chief Minister MK Stalin’s failure to visit Vengaivayal, the Tamil Nadu village where a Dalit settlement’s drinking water tank was contaminated with human waste.
A member of the audience asked Raja, “We ask the social justice question of why PM Modi did not visit Manipur. But our CM Stalin did not visit Vengaivayal, this is social injustice.”
Raja responded by questioning the comparison, asking, “Do you think the severity of Vengaivayal and Manipur issues are same?”
The audience member replied, “Everything is injustice.” When people began clapping in support of this remark, Raja interrupted, saying, “Wait, wait.”
Raja then elaborated on his position, saying, “Do we take the same tablet for blood cancer and headache? This is a good question. We exhausted all things scientifically.”
In what can be seen as a startling revelation, Raja said, “Two theories are there – whether they are same caste or different castes. We do not disagree that it was wrong. But do you know what happened in Manipur? In Manipur, they paraded a woman naked with military in broad daylight and gangraped by 15 people and you are justifying it in Parliament. Governor did not come out, you think all this was happening ordinarily. Sir don’t compare.”
Despite repeated questions on why the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had not visited Vengaivayal, Raja defended the government’s handling of the case, saying, “What would have happened if he went? We are investigating under CBI, forensic, everything. That is a lone wolf attack. It was a human right violation by putting faeces in a tank.”
He added, “To find that one person we are working. We have kept everything open. We called the caste leaders, we called DPI, we called Viduthalai Chiruthaigal, sir, have we hidden anything?”
Raja continued to emphasise the distinction between the two cases, stating, “But Manipur is a much bigger issue. There the Governor is sitting in office, the police are there, yet nothing came out. Under armed protection they took her away. Are these two of the same?”
He further said, “What I am saying is this: in one case, so many people have died, there is a social conflagration, and the Prime Minister is sitting in Delhi watching it.”
Explaining why he believed the Chief Minister’s visit would not have altered the situation, Raja said, “Here, it is a barbaric act committed by one individual. For that barbarity, investigation is the only solution. The Chief Minister going there cannot say or do anything.”
He added, “If it is a death due to natural calamity, a big accident, a landslide, yes, the CM must go. But by sitting here in the Fort and giving proper directions, can we not find the culprit there? That is what is needed.”
Raja further argued that a visit could escalate tensions, stating, “Otherwise if he goes there, then groups will gather, two sides will clash, and I am asking: why should a whole community be dragged into it?” He concluded, “Each issue has its own remedy. So please do not compare. When you say ‘Manipur’, anger arises. I have not personally seen it.”
During the discussion, the host reframed the audience’s concern, pointing out that in Vengaivayal an entire community was affected, while Raja had repeatedly described it as an act by an individual. She also noted that Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan had called for a CBI inquiry to ensure a fair probe.
Responding, Raja said, “Refer it, get it done, until now, what have you been able to do? Have you at least been able to ask, ‘Who has done it, why is it being hidden?’”
He continued, “Let it be Thirumavalavan or any other caste leader, any big political leader – I see them as big political leaders – I am still fighting more for caste issues.”
Raja challenged critics to identify suspects, stating, “Let someone say one thing clearly. Name them. Say, ‘Raja did it’ – we will investigate Raja. Say, ‘Kamaraj did it’ – we will question him.”
He added, “Without naming even one person, how can an investigation start? Please tell me.”
Raja acknowledged the presence of multiple theories, saying, “Only then the problem arises – did they do it within their own community, in the same ‘colony’? That is one theory doing the rounds. But let it be open. We are not hiding it.”
When asked what could be done if the investigation yielded no results, Raja replied, “It is still open. Any day a solution may come.”
He cited unresolved cases across governments, stating, “Take the Ramajayam murder case. Jayalalithaa was the Chief Minister then. She could not solve it. We could not solve it when we were in power.”
Concluding his remarks, Raja said, “You cannot accuse the government alone. Regardless of which political entity is in power… somewhere the chain is missing.”
கடைசி வரை பதில் வரவில்லை..! pic.twitter.com/q2mU0AKTKv
— Pokkiri_Victor (@Pokkiri_Victor) January 15, 2026
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