DMK MP Kanimozhi slams H Raja’s ‘illegitimate child’ jibe: ‘Exposes BJP’s mindset’

Speaking to TNM, Kanimozhi said that it was beneath her to even respond to Raja’s jibe, and has demanded a response from BJP.

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Politics in Tamil Nadu hit a new low on Wednesday when BJP’s National Secretary H Raja took a veiled but cheap shot at Rajya Sabha MP and DMK President M Karunanidhi’s daughter, Kanimozhi. Attacking the DMK leader for lending support to a woman journalist who had condemned Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s inappropriate behaviour towards her, Raja took to Twitter to insult Kanimozhi. And in a fitting reply, Kanimozhi has slammed Raja, and told TNM that his comments showed how unsafe it is for women in all spheres of public life.

In a tweet on Wednesday morning, Raja said, “Would journalists question the leader who made his illegitimate child, from an illegitimate relationship, a Rajya Sabha MP, just like they questioned the Governor? Memories of Chidambaram Udayakumar, Anna Nagar Ramesh, Perambalur Sadiq Basha would haunt them.”

Raja’s uncivil and contemptuous tweet comes after Kanimozhi issued a statement condemning the TN Governor for patting a woman journalist on the cheek in response to a question at a press conference.

On Tuesday, Kanimozhi had tweeted, “Even if the intention is above suspicion, a person who holds a public office has to understand that there is a decorum to it and violating a woman journalist’s personal space does not reflect the dignity or the respect which should be shown to any human being.”

Even if the intention is above suspicion, a person who holds a public office has to understand that there is a decorum to it and violating a woman journalist’s personal space does not reflect the dignity or the respect which should be shown to any human being. Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) April 17, 2018

Speaking to TNM, the DMK MP who has come under personal attack, says that H Raja's statement exposes how women are treated in this society.

"It is beneath me to respond to the statement made by BJP's H Raja. But it exposes their mindset," DMK MP Kanimozhi told TNM. "Either you patronise a woman as seen in the press conference, or you try to personally attack her. Can a woman not be present in public places? This incident has shown what happens when a woman comes out in support of another.”

“This is an example of what happens to women in every possible working space. I belong to an important party in this state and I am a second time MP. People assume that politicians are safe. But even in politics women are not safe. This is how they harass and threaten women in public spaces – be it doctors, IT professionals, teachers or students,” Kanimozhi said. She added that BJP must respond to what H Raja has said.

“This is not going to make me step back or prevent me from taking up such issues in the future," she added.

Many have slammed H Raja for his comments. Former Finance Minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram tweeted demanding an explanation from the BJP.

There is no such thing as an 'illegitimate child'. All children are perfectly legitimate.

Will the BJP please explain where it stands? — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 18, 2018

DMK spokesperson A Saravanan also hit out at Raja, tweeting: “Even the High Court has asked whether he is suffering from a mental illness. We all want to ask, why has BJP kept such a low life as their national secretary? Does the BJP support these opinions? No action has taken so far, this is the hooliganism and arrogance of being in power.”

This tweet exemplifies the core policy of @BJP4India : If you stand up for a woman who is harassed by a BJP person, we will threaten, abuse, target and attack you on personal grounds. This culture of fear psychosis is what allows petty outfits like @BJP4TamilNadu to thrive. https://t.co/yIjplzGNtD Manuraj S (@manuraj1983) April 18, 2018

Hey @HRajaBJP Kalaignar and @KanimozhiDMK mother had her by mutual consent. What the Governor did was touch a woman WITHOUT her consent. If you cant see the difference you deserve to be in the doghouse yourself. sharada ramanathan (@shediramanathan) April 18, 2018

Cheap tweet from Raja Shame Kumaresan (@Kumares08030463) April 18, 2018

Do you even know what is “consent” mean? ஆலாலகண்டன் (@aalalakandan) April 18, 2018

First - ur language is terrible 2. Plz go through the PCs of the past ! I have personally asked many tough questions ! And plz don’t defend someone u shouldn’t be defending at this point Priyamvatha P (@Priyamvathap) April 18, 2018