India
CPI(M) Slams Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Over Remarks on Stalin's Emergency-Era Injury
CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam strongly criticized Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday, September 7, 2026, for comments made in the State Assembly regarding DMK president M.K. Stalin. Shanmugam accused the Chief Minister of mocking Stalin over a jaw injury he sustained during his detention under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the Emergency period in India.
In a post on social media platform X, Shanmugam stated that the nation is well aware of the historical struggles to safeguard democracy and the repressive actions carried out during the Emergency. He noted that Stalin had been violently assaulted by police at the time, resulting in a broken jaw, and said that mocking such an incident was unacceptable regardless of a person's stature. He described the Chief Minister's remarks as irresponsible.
Shanmugam's party, the CPI(M), extends outside support to the ruling TVK government. He noted that while Vijay had responded to demands for grants concerning the Police and Fire and Rescue Services Departments, his reply did not adequately address the questions raised by legislators. Instead, Shanmugam said, the Chief Minister's response focused on criticizing the principal opposition party.
He further remarked that referencing allegations made by the Enforcement Directorate was inappropriate, given that democratic institutions are currently under the agency's scrutiny. Shanmugam also stated that using the Assembly platform to praise individuals or launch personal attacks went against parliamentary ethics, adding that such personal criticisms should be reserved for forums outside the House. He said that wasting Assembly time, which operates using taxpayer funds, was unacceptable.