CHENNAI: A day after facing backlash over his allegedly objectionable remarks targeting Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay during a rally on the Cauvery water dispute, DMK leader and leader of opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday moved the Madras high court seeking anticipatory bail in the case registered against him.When Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan commenced proceedings on Tuesday, advocate Hasan Mohammed Jinnah sought an urgent hearing of the plea. Accepting the request, the judge agreed to hear the anticipatory bail petition later in the afternoon.The case stems from a DMK rally held in Thanjavur on Monday to protest the Cauvery water-sharing issue. During his address, Udhayanidhi allegedly made a double-entendre remark targeting the chief minister, triggering a political storm.Following a complaint by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Thanjavur police registered an FIR against the DMK leader. Apprehending arrest, Udhayanidhi approached the high court for anticipatory bail.The controversy also reached the National Commission for Women (NCW), with TVK filing a complaint alleging that Udhayanidhi made “vulgar”, “objectifying” and “sexually suggestive” remarks. TVK national spokesperson Pazha Selvakumar urged the commission to take cognisance of the speech, seek an explanation and an unconditional public apology, and direct authorities to initiate legal proceedings under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.According to the complaint, the remarks were made while Udhayanidhi was responding to slogans raised by party workers during the rally. TVK alleged that the comments objectified women, undermined the dignity of women in public life and lowered the standards of political discourse. The party also urged the NCW to examine the video footage of the speech and recommend legal action for alleged public obscenity and outraging the modesty of women.
