Controversy Surrounding Jayalalithaa’s Saree Pulling Incident Sparks Debate in Tamil Nadu Assembly
Chennai – The Tamil Nadu Assembly has recently been embroiled in a heated discussion over the alleged incident of Jayalalithaa’s saree being pulled. The issue has become a subject of debate, with politicians giving interviews that align with their respective party’s stance on the matter. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed her anger as DMK party members were accused of pulling Jayalalithaa’s saree, leading to opposition from DMK MPs.
This incident dates back to 1989 when an interview given by Thirunavukkarasar discussing the incident was published in numerous newspapers. In the interview, Karunanidhi claimed that he imagined being attacked by his political rivals and left behind. He further urged for a case of attempted murder to be filed, predicting doom for the DMK party.
In a recent interview at the Chennai airport, Thirunavukkarasar addressed the issue once again. He dismissed claims made by Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Governor Tamilisai, stating that they were not involved in politics at that time. Thirunavukkarasar also highlighted the lack of division between the ruling party and the opposition in the assembly during that period.
Giving further details, Thirunavukkarasar recounted the incident in the assembly. He mentioned that Chief Minister Karunanidhi and Minister Anbazagan were seated opposite the Leader of the Opposition, Jayalalithaa. Thirunavukkarasar, along with Congress leader Moopanar and Kumari Ananthan, were also present during the incident.
According to Thirunavukkarasar, there were indications that something untoward would happen, prompting Karunanidhi to read the budget from a small table. As he was reading, an MLA from behind pulled out the budget book, causing Karunanidhi to stumble and drop his glasses. Senior ministers quickly intervened and escorted the Chief Minister to safety.
Meanwhile, DMK MLAs mistakenly presumed that the attack had come from ADMK MLAs seated nearby, leading them to retaliate by throwing budget books. Thirunavukkarasar, along with two others, stood up to defend Jayalalithaa. Although some books fell on Jayalalithaa and Thirunavukkarasar, there were no blows, sticks, or blood injuries.
Thirunavukkarasar’s statement contradicts the claims made by both DMK and ADMK. The DMK had alleged that Karunanidhi had punched Jayalalithaa, while the ADMK claimed that her saree was grabbed. According to Thirunavukkarasar, both incidents did not occur.
The controversy surrounding Thirunavukkarasar’s dual stance on this issue has sparked criticism on social media. Many are questioning his credibility and accusing him of flip-flopping on the matter.
This incident has further intensified the political climate in Tamil Nadu, as politicians continue to debate and give different accounts of what transpired in the assembly back in 1989. It remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the political landscape in the state.