Slap or tap? Stalin's first Chennai Metro ride becomes a political controversy

The video itself shows Stalin slapping a man, believed to be a DMK party worker

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A small incident on board the newly-installed Chennai Metro on its second day of running in the city has caught the attention of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Following a well-received reaction by the public on its first day, when DMK treasurer, MK Stalin hopped on his first ride on the Metro on Wednesday, he inadvertently was caught on camera lightly slapping a man on his cheek while on the train.

The video itself shows Stalin slapping a man, believed to be a DMK party worker and telling him to move away from where he was standing inside the train.

DMK says the backstory of the video that came on Polimer TV was that the party worker asked some women commuters seated to get up for his leader. Not impressed with this, Stalin asked him to move.

Later, it looks like Stalin did sit next to the women, as seen in this picture. However, this action was caught on camera and has since then been circulated on social media. Taking note of the incident, Jayalalithaa however, condemned Stalin’s actions for 'slapping' a passenger while he was taking a ride on the Metro. In a statement, she then said that such behaviour was unacceptable by an MLA.

However, DMK spokesperson, Saravanan, said, "A Metro rail conceptualised by DMK government was inaugurated through video conference.

The AIADMK does not want DMK to get credit and so they are creating controversy deliberately." He further said, "It was a DMK worker and he has no complaint, why is the media making big deal of it." Congress leader Kushbhu told the media that it was unfair to target Stalin with a video that does not show the full sequence.

The Metro Rail was conceptualised and passed for construction under the DMK’s backing during its previous rule.