Chennai, June 1 (BPNS)
Even as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin has extended his support to the Champion wrestlers in their fight for justice on their allegation that the BJP MP a Brij Bhushan had sexually abused them, an allegation from the noted Tamil singer Chinmayi Sripada on the silence of the Chief Minister on her allegation against his supporter and noted lyricist Vairamuthu has put Stalin on the backfoot.
The singer has been raising allegations against Vairamuthu that he had sexually abused her and other women.
Vairamuthu is a noted lyricist and director in Tamil film industry and the allegations had rocked the industry. However, with political patronage and larger than life image, he was able to wade off the allegations.
Chinmayi Sripada has requested Chief Minister Stalin to take action against lyricist Vairamuthu. The noted singer in a tweet said, “Respected Hon’ble CM Sir, it is amazing you show support to the cause of justice to sexual harassment survivors every time a case comes to notice across India. When political leaders speak, there is hope for change. However, there are no systems in place yet- No ICC or POCSO in many industries especially in the Film industry. 17+ women have named your friend /supporter Mr. Varimuthu who continues to enjoy your proximity which he uses to silence women who speak up even more. Your party continue to platform him ,as have other politicians in Tamil Nadu.”
The noted singer who has been relentlessly raising her voice against Vairamuthu in the past five years has responded on Twitter after the Chief Minister has expressed solidarity to the women wrestlers who had complained against the BJP MP and former Wresting Federation of India president, Brij Bhushan.
In the Tweet she said that the rules cannot be different for Varimuthu and Brij Bhushan. She said that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has extended support to the women wrestlers but has not done anything against his friend and associate Vairamuthu against whom more than 17 women had raised MeToo allegations.
She charged that Vairamuthu had used his proximity to the Chief Minister and his party to silence her and several others and ruined the carriers of several women who had dreams about their future. She also said that his talent was not greater than the talent these women including she had.
Chinmayi Sripada also urged the Chief Minister to constitute Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and POCSO Units in all the units and said that many women and men continue to face sexual harassment in TVs and films.
It may be noted that Chinmay Sripada has been regularly voicing her opposition to Vairamuthu since first bringing up an allegation in 2018.
BJP state president Annamalai in a tweet said that there were 19 complaints against Vairamuthu (lyricist). He said that a singer has been claiming for several days that he had sexually harassed her but he has not been questioned by the Police even once because he is with Stalin.
Social activist and Director, Centre for Policy and Development Studies, a think tank based out of Chennai, C. Rajeev while speaking to BPNS said, “ The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister must at least order an investigation into the allegations raised by noted singer, Chinmayi Sreepada and make the people feel that the government was not shielding any accused.”
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