Former AIADMK minister and Rajya Sabha MP CV Shanmugam has faced heavy criticism for making a controversial remark that likened women to government freebies. Speaking at an AIADMK booth committee training meeting, Shanmugam stated: “Many announcements will come for the elections. They will provide mixers, grinders, goats, cows for free, and why, they might even give a wife for free to each person.” He went on to suggest that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, being Karunanidhi’s son, was capable of making such promises.
The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam immediately condemned the comments. Minister Thirumigu Geetha Jeevan posted on the party's X (formerly Twitter) handle, accusing Shanmugam of "demeaning women." She argued that his comments exposed "the perversity and malice of AIADMK towards women."
Geetha Jeevan underscored several DMK schemes focused on women's empowerment, including Vidiyal Payanam, the Kalaignar Women’s Rights Scheme, Pudhumai Penn Scheme, Thozhi Hostels for working women, and efforts to increase loan limits for women’s self-help groups and promote women entrepreneurs.
She slammed Shanmugam for using the female gender to curse and questioned whether he would have made such remarks when Jayalalithaa was alive. She further noted that Edappadi Palanisamy had not reprimanded him for the comments.
The DMK statement recalled past instances of AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and allied leaders disparaging women’s welfare schemes, citing Palanisamy for allegedly calling Vidiyal Payanam buses “lipstick-coated buses,” actor Khushbu for calling the Women’s Rights Scheme amount “begging,” and PMK’s Sowmya Anbumani for mocking the ₹1,000 relief amount provided to women.
The party emphasised that under Stalin’s leadership, Tamil Nadu has implemented progressive schemes that have significantly boosted women’s economic independence, educational participation, and employment opportunities. It concluded that such development was not to AIADMK’s liking, prompting Shanmugam’s derogatory and desperate comments.
Also read: Stalin unveils key projects across Tamil Nadu
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