In a recent press interview, Seeman, a prominent Tamil politician, engaged in a fiery exchange with a reporter from Maalai Malar. Seeman seemed to have biased opinions of the reporter because he was from a particular community.
உன் பேரு என்ன? ..! அப்ப நீ அப்படித்தான் பேசுவ…!
– பத்திரிகையாளரிடம் மதரீதியாக மோதலில் ஈடுபட்ட சீமான்#Seeman | #NTK pic.twitter.com/NZBCEkCwDn
— PuthiyathalaimuraiTV (@PTTVOnlineNews) September 27, 2023
The exchange began when the reporter questioned the number of votes Seeman garnered per constituency, to which he responded with fervour. Seeman cited his impressive vote counts in specific constituencies and challenged the reporter’s perspective. The conversation quickly escalated into a debate about personal influence and the broader political landscape.
One of the central points of the question and answer volley was the role of money in Tamil Nadu’s politics. While the reporter suggested that no Dravidian party had openly admitted to using money power to win elections, Seeman questioned the reality behind such claims. He challenged the reporter to consider whether other parties distributed money during campaigns and if he believed this practice to be absent in Tamil Nadu’s political arena.
The interview also took a personal turn when Seeman inquired about the reporter’s affiliation with a specific newspaper, raising questions about the quality of the publication and the reporter’s suitability to ask probing questions.
Here is the transcript of the exchange:
Reporter: Is it enough if you get 3000 votes per constituency?
Seeman: I have won 27000 votes in a constituency, will you hang yourself? I won 37000 votes in Thoothukudi, will you consume poison? Tell me which constituency I got 3000 votes in, and I will burn myself.
Reporter: You cannot say that is your personal influence.
Seeman: So did I get that many votes by your influence? You don’t seem to be wanting to ask proper questions but just conjure random theories. After this press meet, we can talk separately. Learn to speak properly first. Let us assume I got 3,000 votes in my first election, how did I get 30,000 votes in the next election?
Reporter: It could be because of your party workers’ (men) activities.
Seeman: Why, won’t my sisters have done something good? Even if they indulge in any activities, the people have to vote, right? First, tell me if DMK ADMK gets any votes without using money power. If you are an honest reporter, you will ask that question. Have you asked them this?
Reporter: So far no Dravidian party has accepted that they have won any election/got votes because of money power.
Seeman: They haven’t said it, but haven’t they done it? Touch your heart and tell me if they are distributing money or not.
Reporter: I haven’t seen them do it.
Seeman: Which magazine/daily do you work for?
Reporter: Maalai Malar.
Seeman: Has the quality of the newspaper gone so bad? What is your name?
Reporter: Sirajuddin.
Seeman: Then you will talk like that only.
Reporter: If a reporter asks you a question, you get angered by it, you also want to know where we work.
Seeman: Should I not ask which newspaper you represent? Is there a rule that says that? You are supposed to ask proper questions and not make fun.
Reporter: I did not make fun of you.
Seeman: You did make fun when you said you did not see for yourself if any Dravidian party distributed money during the elections.
Reporter: I asked the questions only to make them available to the people.
Seeman: It doesn’t look like you are making news/facts available to the people.
Reporter: It is the truth. I asked if your influence had gone down.
Seeman: You tell me if my influence has gone down or improved?
Reporter: I don’t think it has improved.
Seeman: I think you are in a coma then.
Reporter: OK, let me remain in a coma.
Throughout the exchange, Seeman maintained a confrontational and assertive demeanour, defending his political influence and his party’s stance while emphasising the importance of direct and precise questioning from the media.
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