00:00Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay is facing political backlash over a gesture allegedly mocking DMK Chief MK Stalin's jaw
00:09injury.
00:10The controversy erupted during a heated assembly debate yesterday on the 1975-77 emergency.
00:16And while referring to Stalin's missile arrest, Vijay allegedly placed his hand on his face in a gesture appearing to
00:23mimic someone being struck.
00:25He was referring to former Chief Minister MK Stalin and Stalin was, remember, detained under MISA during the emergency and
00:33was allegedly severely assaulted in Chennai Central Jail.
00:37The assault reportedly left him with a fractured jaw.
00:40And the gesture has now triggered sharp condemnation from the left, which is a ruling ally of Chief Minister Vijay.
00:48It's an ally of the Chief Minister Vijay's TVK and is still now condemning the remark, the gesture that was
00:55made by the Chief Minister.
00:57CPIM State Secretary P. Shanmugam has accused Vijay of body shaming MK Stalin, calling the Chief Minister's act irresponsible and
01:05highly condemnable.
01:07The left is now questioning whether a painful chapter of Stalin's past can be used to settle political scores by
01:15Chief Minister Vijay.
01:19The political decency and decorum at least to an extent.
01:24The political decency and decorum at least to an extent.
01:27The political decency and decorum is displayed.
02:34And they are now condemning.
02:36Now, what is also important to note that left is in alliance with the TVK in the Tamil Nadu government.
02:41And despite that, they are now slamming the chief minister for making this gesture.
02:49So, a controversy has now erupted over chief minister mocking Stalin's jaw injury.
02:56And this dates back to the emergency era.
02:59And with the left leaders now saying that this was not correct and a line was crossed by the chief
03:04minister.
03:05And as you can see in these visuals, how he's making this gesture, how he's put his hand near his
03:11jaw.
03:11And that is what is being referred to.
03:14That is exactly what has now stoked this entire row, this entire controversy.
03:18That was an attack, indirect attack on the former chief minister, M.K. Stalin,
03:23after which a controversy has now erupted with the leaders now saying that a line was crossed by the chief
03:29minister.
03:29And he should not have done that.
03:31He should have refrained from making those gestures.
03:34He was referring to the jaw injury of M.K. Stalin.
03:39My colleague Apoorva Jai Chandran is now joining us on the story with more details on this.
03:45Apoorva, our controversy has now erupted over the gesture by chief minister Vijay,
03:51which was apparently against M.K. Stalin.
03:54And left, which is an ally of the TVK, is now slamming the chief minister.
04:01Well, that's right, Anjali.
04:02In fact, if you do see this particular hand gesture that had been made by chief minister Vijay,
04:09in fact, that's what you can see the allies of TVK going ahead and saying.
04:14They say that this particular hand gesture made by the chief minister was made in a very bad taste.
04:20And in fact, they've also gone ahead.
04:22CPIM leader, their general secretary, Shanmugam, has also gone ahead and stated that this was an irresponsible act
04:29by the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
04:31He was supposed to talk about the law and order and how, you know, the situation here in Chennai and
04:36in Tamil Nadu
04:37has been over the last, ever since TVK came to government.
04:41But rather, there had been nothing but a slew of allegations that had been levied against opposition, particularly the DMK.
04:48And that this particular hand gesture, which the chief minister had mimicked in none other than the Tamil Nadu assembly,
04:56you know, walking chief minister, then chief minister M.K.
05:00Stalin there, but rather the CPIM goes ahead and says this was chief minister Vijay's way of body shaming M
05:06.K.
05:06Stalin.
05:07This was an irresponsible act by the chief minister and that it should not have been happened in the Tamil
05:13Nadu assembly
05:14and none other than by the chief minister himself going ahead and making these kind of statements and comments
05:20and hand gestures in a very bad taste.
05:24All right, Apoorva, do stay with us.
05:26So, irresponsible gesture by the chief minister himself.
05:30This is what the left is claiming while slamming the gesture which was done by chief minister Vijay yesterday in
05:37the assembly.
05:38And this was an alleged attack against the former chief minister, M.K. Stalin,
05:43which is now being condemned by not just the opposition, but also by the alliance leaders.
05:58And some more news coming in.
06:00DMK's big attack on Vijay over assembly speech.
06:03DMK MP calls Vijay's remarks lowest of lows.
06:07Kalimori says that Vijay is raking up 50-year-old issues.
06:12Crime against women have increased under Vijay government.
06:15DMK has attacked, saying that Vijay's emergency remark is derogatory and irresponsible remarks by chief minister Vijay in the House.
06:25So, DMK is also now escalating its attack on chief minister Vijay over his assembly speech,
06:30saying that his remarks were lowest of lows and that Vijay is raking up 50-year-old issues
06:36while ignoring the current issues which are being faced by the people of the state
06:40and how the crime against women have increased under Vijay government.
06:44And the DMK has also claimed that his emergency remark was derogatory
06:50and there were irresponsible remarks which were made by the chief minister.
07:16And today, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Vijay avar lodei page,
07:21the police minister of India,
07:53Thank you very much.
08:45Thank you very much.
09:15Thank you very much.
09:16Thank you very much.
10:17Thank you very much.
10:23Thank you very much.
10:26Thank you very much.
10:37You can also see allies of the TVK itself including CPIM General Secretary Deir P. Shanmugam also going ahead and
10:44saying that this particular act of the Chief Minister body shaming MK Stalin was done in a bad taste and
10:51a bad light.
10:51And it was Joseph C. Vijay.
10:55Thank you very much.
11:12Thank you very much.
11:12He also accused the Chief Minister of distracting from the current issues, the law and order issues that are being
11:19faced by the people of Tamil Nadu and rather focusing on the 50 year old issues, 50 year old track
11:26record of the DMK and not doing much about the issues which are actually being faced today in the state.
12:11Some more news coming in.
12:12BAPS says that concerns by protesters were taken seriously.
12:16So the Eiffel Tower was temporarily closed on Monday after employers staged a protest over allegations that female staff were
12:24asked to move away from the area during a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation.
12:28The incident, which took place during a visit by around 100 people linked to BAPS on Saturday, has sparked anger
12:36among the staff and drawn criticism from senior French politicians.
12:40BAPS has responded to this entire controversy over alleged sidelining of women's staff.
12:45BAPS has said that it understands the concerns raised over the Eiffel Tower visit and is now taking them very
12:51seriously.
12:57So BAPS has now responded to the protests that were staged at the Eiffel Tower and it has said that
13:03it understands these concerns and is now taking these concerns very seriously.
13:10This morning, we have received a indian delegation of hundreds of people.
13:15Jusque-là, it has nothing to do with habit because it is a cultural and diplomatic delegation that are sent
13:23for political reasons.
13:25It is something that we do regularly, it is a part of the work of the Eiffel Tower.
13:28It is a part of the work of the work of the Eiffel Tower, but it is the case, it
13:30is a part of the work of the work of the people.
13:32So our work is the neutrality.
14:00And India Today Global's Pranapadeh is now joining us with more details.
14:04Pranay, a very good morning to you.
14:05Help us understand what exactly unfolded at the Eiffel Tower during the visit of this BAPS delegation.
14:11Were the female staff sidelined?
14:14Good morning, Anjali.
14:15Reportedly, this incident took place on Saturday when a hundred-member BAPS delegation,
14:21which is Putasana Vasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Pansha,
14:26and its acronym is BAPS,
14:27So they were inaugurating their Hindu temple on the outskirts or in the suburbs of Paris.
14:35And in fact, a hundred-member delegation visited the Eiffel Tower on Saturday.
14:39And reportedly, around that time, you know, since it was a private visit to Eiffel Tower,
14:44there were arrangements made, and in fact, BAPS requested.
14:48The Eiffel Tower management, you know, the body, the group which manages the Eiffel Tower,
14:55and then the visitor exits there to make certain arrangements.
14:58And after that, this controversy sparked that the female, you know, staff members were replaced by the male staff members.
15:04In fact, some of the female members who have been asked to stay away during that, you know, this visit
15:11of the BAPS member.
15:13However, you know, the BAPS, according to their statement,
15:17they said that they, you know, that to the best of their knowledge,
15:21that at no point was anyone prevented their access to Eiffel Tower.
15:26And nevertheless, they sincerely apologized as well for any pain or inconvenience caused.
15:30But now, it has generated a controversy in France,
15:34because many politicians have also reacted to that,
15:38including the far-right presidential candidate, Meryl Ben.
15:42Besides that, the Equality Minister of France has also reacted and said that this is totally unacceptable.
15:48And, you know, we will thoroughly investigate the case.
15:51Paris Mair has also, you know, assured that there will be an investigation in this case.
15:56So now, the case will be investigated.
15:59What exactly has happened?
16:01Because, according to the BAPS, they coordinated their visit.
16:05And since it was a private visit, certain arrangements were made in coordination with the body,
16:11which is managing the access or visitor, you know, access to Eiffel Tower.
16:15And, in fact, they followed those instructions as far as the BAPS is concerned.
16:21But, you know, now the matter is under investigation.
16:24So let's see what regional French authorities come up with.
16:28All right, Pranay, thank you for those details and for that context.
16:31So a controversy has erupted over.
16:33There are reports that a female staff were allegedly asked to step away.
16:37And they were sidelined during the BAPS delegation visit to the Eiffel Tower,
16:41after which there were protests.
16:43And it was also shut, after which BAPS has also issued a statement
16:46saying that they are looking into these allegations very seriously.
16:54With that, it's a wrap on this bulletin.
16:56Thank you for watching India Today.
16:57More news and updates will continue on the other side.
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