Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) General Secretary and DMK ally Vaiko has been accused of instigating violence against journalists during a party meeting in Sathur, Virudhunagar district.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when some party workers began leaving mid-speech while Vaiko was addressing the gathering. As journalists captured the walkout on video, Vaiko allegedly responded with verbal abuse, using inappropriate and offensive language against the media from the stage.
In a statement posted on X, the Chennai Press Club accused Vaiko of ordering party cadres to seize journalists’ equipment, which reportedly led to physical assaults and damage to recording devices. Several journalists were injured in the scuffle that followed.
“Acting on his instructions, MDMK cadres attacked the journalists and damaged their equipment,” the Press Club said, calling the episode “alarming and shocking.”
The Press Club, along with other journalist unions, strongly condemned both Vaiko’s remarks and the attack, noting that it was especially disappointing coming from a senior politician once regarded as a staunch defender of democratic values.
They demanded immediate legal action: “We urge the police to register a case against those who carried out the assault, as well as against Mr. Vaiko for incitement, under appropriate sections of the law.”
The incident has sparked outrage in Tamil Nadu’s media circles, with calls for strict accountability and protection for journalists covering political events.