MK Stalin's response came two days after CM Vijay clarified that a gesture he made while referring to MISA in the Assembly was “not in any way intentional”.

Updated on: Sep 10, 2026, 08:33:17 IST

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Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay “must not talk about unnecessary controversies in the Assembly,” DMK president MK Stalin said on Thursday. Stalin hit back at Vijay over his recent Assembly remarks on the Emergency-era Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). He recounted his 1976 arrest and alleged custodial torture during the Emergency.

Addressing Vijay as “Thambi Vijay”, Stalin said his Emergency-era struggle was part of the DMK’s history. “History can never be changed,” the former Tamil Nadu chief minister said. He also accused Vijay of using social media reels and publicity to conceal administrative failures.

“You [CM Vijay] turned the Assembly itself into a place where reels happen, standing on the bridge we built and doing photoshoots, you are running the administration also, just like a cinema shooting. To hide your inefficient administration, you are posting various reels like this and cheating a whole generation,” Stalin said in a video on X.

Stalin's remarks came two days after Vijay clarified that a hand gesture he made while referring to MISA in the Assembly was “not in any way intentional”. The gesture, in which Vijay placed his hand near his jaw, was widely interpreted as a reference to Stalin's jaw injury during his detention in 1976.

‘Police came to arrest me’

Stalin said that after the DMK organised a major gathering at Marina Beach in 1976 to oppose the Emergency and criticise MISA. He recalled that police reached the Karunanidhi residence in Gopalapuram immediately after the dismissal to arrest him under MISA. Stalin said he was away campaigning at the time.

“The Union Government that was in power at that time, on 31st January 1976, dismissed the DMK government. The very next second after dismissing the government, police came to the Gopalapuram house to arrest me under the MISA Act,” he said in his video.

According to Stalin, Karunanidhi told the police that his son had gone campaigning and would return the next day. He then asked them to come back when Stalin returned.

“When I came, he himself called the police and asked them to arrest me,” Stalin said, recounting the incident.

Stalin was subsequently detained under MISA. His imprisonment during the Emergency has long been cited as a major episode in his political career. Several senior DMK leaders, including Stalin, Murasoli Maran and Chitti Babu, were reportedly detained and allegedly subjected to custodial violence.

Stalin recounts prison assault

Stalin also described the conditions he said he faced in prison. Detainees were kept in an extremely unhygienic room and subjected to repeated beatings by police and other prisoners, he said.

He said he suffered injuries to his jaw and still carried scars from the alleged assaults.

Stalin also spoke of the death of DMK leader and former Madras mayor Chitti Babu. He died after being brutally beaten in prison, the ex-CM said. Stalin has previously described Chitti Babu as having borne blows meant for him during his incarceration.

“Due to their beating, my dear brother, Member of Parliament Chitti Babu, died inside the jail itself. Due to their beating, my jawbone was broken. You also showed it like this, keeping your hand near the jaw, right? That is correct. Even today, I have the scars of the beatings I received. I am not saying no,” Stalin said.

‘Proud to be part of DMK history’

Stalin said his imprisonment was part of the DMK’s ideological history dating back to party founder CN Annadurai. “You say you are an ideological leader. From the time of Perarignar Anna, this is the history of the DMK. That I am also part of that history is a matter of pride for me,” he said.

He asked Vijay to verify this through official records.

“If you have any doubts…Go and read my history of struggle. You will understand what the truth is,” Stalin said.

Stalin on Sarkaria Commission allegations

Stalin also rejected Vijay’s remarks on the Sarkaria Commission and allegations of corruption against Karunanidhi. He said several governments changed at both the Centre and in Tamil Nadu since the commission was constituted and added that if the allegations had been made, action would have followed.

Stalin accused Vijay of repeating allegations made against Karunanidhi out of “political vendetta”. He also criticised the chief minister for citing an Enforcement Directorate letter to level corruption allegations against DMK leaders.

Stalin claimed that a large majority of cases filed by the ED had not led to convictions and alleged that the agency was being used for political vendetta.

‘Assembly no place for unnecessary controversies’

Stalin said the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly had been shaped by several senior leaders and should be used to debate law and order, welfare schemes, Tamil Nadu’s rights and the state’s development.

“My request is that you should not talk about unnecessary controversies in the Assembly,” Stalin said. Stalin also recalled Vijay’s visit to his residence after becoming chief minister. He said Vijay had then told him that he had spoken critically about Stalin during the election campaign and apologised.

“I said, it’s okay, brother. I don’t keep all that in my heart,” he said.

He added that Vijay should remember that he was now the chief minister and should speak with the dignity expected of the office. “A chief minister’s words and body language should have the dignity of a chief minister. We are the role models for the people. Don’t forget that,” he added.

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