Stalin snipes at Vijay over body-shaming row: You're right, my jaw was fractured

DMK president MK Stalin on Thursday launched a sharp counterattack on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay over his reference to Stalin’s Emergency-era imprisonment and the alleged torture he suffered under MISA Act, recounting his arrest and saying the scars of the brutal treatment he endured in prison remain with him even today.The controversy began during a debate on police department grants in the Assembly, where Vijay accused the DMK of repeatedly invoking its MISA-era struggles to deflect allegations of present-day corruption. While referring to Stalin’s detention under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the Emergency, Vijay made a gesture involving his jaw, which Opposition members saw as a mockery of Stalin’s prison injury.Responding to the controversy in a video message, Stalin urged Vijay to maintain the dignity expected of the occupant of the state’s highest constitutional office."Brother Vijay, what you said is true. There is no lie in it," Stalin said, referring to his imprisonment under MISA. The former Chief Minister then gave a graphic account of what he described as the brutality he suffered in prison."I suffered many forms of torture in prison," he said, alleging that political prisoners were taken to a facility where leprosy patients had previously been housed. "Ten people were confined in a small room. Inside that room, all of us had to urinate in a single vessel. The place was extremely filthy. That was where we slept," Stalin said.He alleged that prisoners were beaten at night with lathis and kicked with boots, while life convicts were allegedly brought in to assault them.Stalin said DMK leader and former parliamentarian Chitti Babu died in prison following the alleged assaults.He also directly addressed Vijay’s gesture in the Assembly, where the Chief Minister had held his jaw while referring to Stalin’s MISA imprisonment."My jawbone was fractured because of the beatings. You too showed your jaw by placing your hand there, didn't you? That was correct," Stalin said."Even today, I have scars from the beatings. I am not denying that," he added.Stalin also recalled how he was arrested during the Emergency.He said the DMK government headed by his father and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was dismissed by the Union government on January 31, 1976, during the Emergency, after Karunanidhi had opposed the Emergency and strongly criticised MISA.Stalin said that immediately after the government was dismissed, police went to the Karunanidhi residence in Gopalapuram to arrest him under MISA."I was not at home that day. Kalaignar told them, 'The boy has gone for campaigning. He will return tomorrow. Once he comes, I myself will call you. You can come and arrest him,'"Stalin recalled.He said that when he returned the next day, Karunanidhi himself asked the police to come and arrest him.Stalin said the repression faced by political activists during the Emergency was part of the broader history of the DMK and those who had fought for Tamil Nadu."Opposing something and facing the consequences of that opposition is nothing new to us," he said.He challenged Vijay to verify his account through official records."You said there is a library in the Legislative Assembly, didn’t you? All the documents are available there. Go there and read about my history of struggle. You will understand what the truth is," Stalin said.STALIN QUESTIONS VIJAY'S SARKARIA COMMISSION CLAIMSStalin also accused Vijay of providing incorrect information about the Sarkaria Commission and corruption allegations involving the Karunanidhi government.He questioned why no action had been taken against those accused if the allegations had substance."After the Sarkaria Commission was constituted, governments changed several times at both the Union and state levels. If any of these allegations had been true, action would certainly have been taken," Stalin said.He accused Vijay of repeating what he described as politically motivated allegations against Karunanidhi and also criticised the Chief Minister for citing an Enforcement Directorate letter in the Assembly.Stalin claimed that "95 per cent" of cases in which the ED had made allegations had not resulted in convictions and alleged that the agency was frequently used for political vendetta."Everyone here knows very well that the Enforcement Directorate is largely used for political vendetta," he said.Pointing to cases involving Congress leaders, Stalin asked how Vijay could remain unaware of the issue while portraying the Union government as an ideological adversary.'ASSEMBLY HAS DIGNITY AND HONOUR'Stalin then urged Vijay to focus Assembly debates on issues concerning Tamil Nadu rather than personal and political controversies."The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has its own dignity and honour," he said and urged the Chief Minister to discuss law and order, welfare schemes, development and the protection of Tamil Nadu's rights."That is what is good for Tamil Nadu and the Tamil people," Stalin said, adding that unnecessary controversies should not be raised in the House.Stalin also recalled Vijay's visit to his residence after becoming Chief Minister, claiming that Vijay had apologised for criticising him during the election campaign."I told you, 'It is okay, brother. I have not taken any of that to heart.' I also told you, Now that you are the Chief Minister of a state, whenever you speak about anyone, speak with that dignity," Stalin said.He reiterated the message, telling Vijay, "Your words and your body language must reflect the dignity expected of a Chief Minister. We are the examples before the people. Do not forget that."However, following the backlash over his gesture in the Assembly, Vijay clarified that his body language was not intentional.The Chief Minister said his body language, which inadvertently came across in between, was not in any way intentional.- EndsPublished On: Sep 10, 2026 08:52 IST