Dravidianist filmmaker and unofficial DMK spokesperson Karu Palaniappan has sparked controversy with his recent statement, saying he would not criticize actor Vijay, as he expects Vijay will also join the DMK in near future and be offered a Rajya Sabha seat. His comment, seen as both a sarcastic dig at Vijay and a veiled swipe at actor-turned-part-time-politician Kamal Haasan, who accepted a Rajya Sabha nomination through the DMK ticket by mortgaging his party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) recently. The statement not only drew attention but also prompted a response from a DMK minister, who acknowledged that Palaniappan’s words had created ripples within the DMK alliance.
The controversial statement was made during a DMK public meeting held near the Anna statue in Tirupattur, Sivaganga district. Themed “I Will Not Let Tamil Nadu Bow Down” and “Oraniyil Tamil Nadu,” the event was chaired by DMK Minister for Cooperatives, K. R. Periyakaruppan.
Addressing the gathering, Karu Palaniappan claimed that over 5 lakh people from the Sivaganga district had joined the ‘Oraniyil Tamil Nadu campaign’. He noted that actor Vijay had recently voiced political opinions aligned against Hindi imposition a stance DMK has long championed and implied that Vijay may align with the DMK in the future hence he refuses to criticize him.
He said, “The Vijay who has come today is also starting by saying ‘we won’t allow Hindi.’ That’s what we’ve been saying. Why don’t you just come and stand with us? Why are you setting up a separate shop? You should only set up a separate shop if you’re selling a new item. We’ve been saying the same thing. Come here. Do you know why I don’t talk (criticize) about Vijay too much? I never talk about him anywhere. It’s because we have to give him a Rajya Sabha seat next time. He’ll be here. If he comes, we have to give him the Rajya Sabha seat. If we rush and talk about it now, it’ll be like the movie Paruthiveeran where, when he comes to eat next month, should we look down at the leaf and pour kulambu (curry)? Shouldn’t we be able to look at their faces and smile? That’s why we shouldn’t say anything in a hurry. You all come.”
Following Palaniappan’s remarks, Minister Periyakaruppan added fuel to the fire by invoking actor-politician Kamal Haasan. He stated that none of today’s actors could compare to Kamal, who once aspired to enter politics independently but eventually accepted a Rajya Sabha seat through the DMK a reference many interpreted as reinforcing Palaniappan’s veiled criticism.
Minister Periyakaruppan said, “Among the actors of today, Kamal Haasan is someone who has received many awards to the extent that one could say there is no other actor like him in this country. He also had a desire to start a political movement and so he started it. He made an attempt. It was only after realizing that his attempt could not achieve complete success that our leader embraced him and gave him the position of a Member of Parliament, a Rajya Sabha member. That’s what brother Palaniappan has so eloquently stated.”
The meeting concluded with Karu Palaniappan, Minister Periyakaruppan, DMK district leaders, and the gathered public reaffirming their commitment to the Tamil Nadu pledge under the “Oraniyil Tamil Nadu” campaign.
(With inputs from Puthiyathalaimurai News)
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