Dharapuram: "People should not vote for or support those who speak disrespectfully and slanderously about women," said TVK leader and Chief Minister Vijay at the Dharapuram election campaign.
On the final day of the Dharapuram by-election campaign in Tiruppur district, a road show was held today (Oct. 4) featuring Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay.
He arrived in Coimbatore from Chennai by a special flight and then came by helicopter to Maruthi Nagar, where the helipad is located in Dharapuram, at around 12:45 p.m.
Upon learning of his arrival, hundreds of volunteers gathered to welcome him. From there, Vijay got into the campaign van, waved to the crowd gathered there, and greeted them. Along with candidate Sathyabama, he sought support among the gathered public, urging them to vote for the whistle symbol.
Speaking to the people gathered in the central area of Dharapuram town, he said, “A few days ago, I traveled around the Madurantakam area and met the people there. Our own people there gave me a wonderful welcome. Following that, I have now come to meet our own people in Dharapuram.
Voting for the DMK and its alliance parties is equivalent to supporting those who speak disparagingly about women. We should never forgive those who speak disrespectfully about our mothers and sisters at home.
I am not saying this merely for electoral gain. The speeches recently made by DMK leader M.K. Stalin and his son, who visited Dharapuram, have caused great shock. The words they used about Sister Sathyabama were so vile that they were unbearable to hear.
I can tolerate whatever criticism anyone makes about me. But if anyone speaks disrespectfully about the women in our home or our mother or sisters in our house, I definitely will not stay silent.
Such low-grade propaganda by DMK members is not something new; it has been like this since the days of MGR. In this by-election, they must be taught a fitting lesson. By voting for the whistle symbol, sister Sathyabama must be made to win by a large margin of votes,” he said.
Today, the heat was more intense than usual. Even so, thousands of people gathered along the route to welcome Vijay. When he reached near the Amaravathi river bridge in Dharapuram, he got down from the campaign van, climbed onto a bullock cart parked by a farmer, and rode it for a few feet.
Likewise, his campaign journey continued as he received gifts from supporters. On learning that women were performing an aarti, he stopped the vehicle there, got down, and accepted the aarti honor. When the women applied a black dot to ward off the evil eye, he in return applied a black dot to the women who had performed the aarti. Those gathered there were delighted to see this.
On the way to Moolanur, he saw decorated Kangayam bulls standing there, got down from the vehicle, and took photos with the bulls. In some places, people showered him with flowers. As a result, the front of the campaign vehicle overflowed with flowers.
Vijay’s personal security guard would occasionally hand him flowers from the bag, and Vijay would toss them onto the gathered crowd, delighting them. Despite the scorching heat, the fact that several lakhs of people lined the route and welcomed him was an effort to divert the final phase of campaigning in the Dharapuram constituency.