Chennai: A day after facing a severe backlash, DMK MP A Raja expressed regret over his controversial remarks against TVK minister C T R Nirmalkumar and said he had no hesitation in taking back his words.“I regret questioning the identity and truth behind the person who mocked and deliberately slandered a leader who is epitome of sacrifice,’’ Raja said in a statement on X. Raja however warned that “those who do not correct their ways would be forced to mend themselves.’’The response came after DMK MP M Kanimozhi posted a Thirukkural couplet, without naming Raja, which cautioned that everyone needs to watch their words.The backlash was for Raja’s remarks made at a DMK protest in Chennai’s Saidapet on Saturday. After Raja criticised chief minister C Joseph Vijay for his assembly speech `taunting’ DMK president M K Stalin, he targeted Nirmalkumar for alleging that the DMK leader was imprisoned for `dubious activities’ and not for his opposition to Emergency. He questioned Nirmalkumar’s parentage, a remark which drew widespread condemnation, including from the CPM. “It is unbearable that some DMK leaders continue to demean women while cadres cheer them,” CPM state secretary P Shanmugham said. “Condemn what minister Nirmalkumar said. But how can the DMK president silently watch when Nirmalkumar’s mother is insulted?” Shanmugham asked.He said some DMK members continued to stray from “dignity” and hoped Stalin would perform his “duty” to restore “discipline”.Raja said he was “driven by emotion” when he made the speech and wanted the person (Nirmal Kumar) who triggered the emotion to feel the same pain.Responding on X, Nirmalkumar said obscene and vulgar language was always used as weapon by DMK men whenever they stare at failure. “Is putting up a stage and getting people to speak obscenely about me and our leader your last weapon?” he asked Stalin.He said Saturday’s protest had shocked people, particularly women. He accused the DMK of resorting to violence or obscene speech whenever questioned over corruption, betrayal and lies. “Can you show such low-grade speeches by DMK members to the women and children in their own homes?” he asked.He said TVK would answer through honest politics, predicted voters would end the DMK’s political run, and invoked MGR’s description of the party as an “evil force”.
