CHENNAI: AIADMK functionaries on Friday lodged complaints against the DMK IT wing and its state secretary, TRB Rajaa, over a social media post ridiculing and body-shaming Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami.
The contentious post, published by the ruling party’s IT wing, was in connection with the Keezhadi archeological excavation issue, which recently took a political colour following the BJP-led Union government’s directive to archaeologist K Amarnath Ramakrishna to resubmit the report related to phases I and II of the excavation carried out at the historical site between 2014 and 2016. The issue reignited following Ramakrishna’s transfer to a defunct unit in Greater Noida a couple of days ago.
Senior leaders and district-level functionaries of the AIADMK submitted complaints within their respective jurisdictions, demanding action against the ruling party’s IT wing and its members under provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
“The DMK’s IT wing published a highly defamatory post against former Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition, Edappadi K Palaniswami, on its official social media platforms. The impugned post contained blatantly false allegations and included a vulgar and obscene semi-nude caricature of our party leader,” joint secretary of the AIADMK’s state Legal Wing, R M Babu Murugavel, stated in his complaint to the Director General of Police.
He further stated that the caricature featured a deliberate and offensive distortion of the AIADMK flag, a symbol of emotional and historical significance for millions of party cadres and members of the public. He demanded appropriate legal action against Rajaa and the DMK’s IT wing.
In Madurai, Deputy Leader of Opposition RB Udhayakumar-led party cadre conducted a stir.