Tamil Nadu minister S Keerthana, the sole woman in chief minister Vijay's TVK-led cabinet, has slammed the “misogyny” behind the political row over a video of a woman wearing a black dress being misidentified as her.
The video, which showed the woman getting out of a car in a dress, was circulated on social media, with several users questioning whether the person was Keerthana. The footage reportedly drew criticism online.
Now, Keerthana has responded to the backlash, clarifying that the woman was not her, while questioning “why should it matter”. “For the record: the woman in that video is not me. But even if it were, why should it matter?” she said in a post on X, while hitting out at the “regressive mindset” behind the trolling.
Keerthana praises woman in video, slams ‘public trial’
{{/usCountry}}Keerthana praises woman in video, slams ‘public trial’
{{/usCountry}}In her post, Keerthana said she was “not surprised” with the criticism online, while taking a veiled jibe at the opposition DMK.
“The fact that a video of a woman simply going about her day can spark political hysteria tells you everything about the fragile, regressive mindset behind it. But I’m not surprised! What else can you expect from followers of a leader with a track record of deeply derogatory remarks against women?” she said.
The Tamil Nadu minister hit out at the “public trial” of a woman “over her clothes, appearance, or joy.” “When they can’t challenge us on our policies, governance, or track record, they resort to manufacturing narratives about personal lives of leaders and their family members,” Keerthan said, adding that misogyny was the “oldest weapon” for those who had “nothing positive to contribute.”
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Keerthana further apologised to the woman in the video, while also praising the person and urging her to “keep living life on your own terms.” “And, To the woman in the video, dragged into this simply due to a passing resemblance: I’m sorry. You look stunning,” the minister said, while adding a compliment for the person's “highlights.”
‘Nothing justifies misogyny…’: DMK leader says party ‘stands firmly for women’s dignity’
DMK leader and former MLA TRB Rajaa criticised the online criticism against Keerthana over the video, while stating that “nothing justifies misogyny”. He further asserted that the DMK “stands firmly for women’s dignity, rights and freedom.”
“Absolutely Disgusted to see some IDs trying to degrade women and their choices, even dragging in people who have absolutely nothing to do with the matter,” Rajaa said in a post on X. He said he was “sick and tired” of those saying “they did the same”, calling it an “unacceptable excuse.” “…Even if your worst enemy did something wrong, it never gives anyone the right to abuse, demean or throw muck at another person. Especially a woman,” the DMK leader said.
“And please, spare us the ridiculous justification: “They did it, so we did it too.” That is not an excuse. It is absolutely unacceptable,” he said, adding that actions which “cross the line of decency” would not be tolerated. He further said that DMK's IT wing would bring to these to the attention of the party's legal department.