‘My jaws were indeed broken in jail during Emergency’: Stalin responds to Tamil Nadu CM Vijay - The Hindu

**Tamil Nadu’s political heat rises as Stalin recalls Emergency‑era jail trauma**

In a sharply worded retort to opposition leader Vijay of the Tamil Vannimai Katchi (TVK), Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said his “jaws were indeed broken in jail during the Emergency”, a reference to the 1975‑77 period when the then‑central government detained thousands of political activists. The comment came after Vijay, during a live session of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, made a dramatic hand‑gesture toward Stalin’s face, which the opposition framed as a “jaw‑shaking” insult. Stalin, who spent more than a year in prison under the Emergency, said the gesture was “an attempt at body‑shaming”, and reminded fellow legislators that “the scars we bear are not just physical but also a testament to the fight for democracy”.

Stalin’s remarks quickly spilled beyond the chamber, with media outlets such as *The Hindu* and *The Times of India* highlighting the historic pain behind the leader’s statement. The CM underscored that many political prisoners of the era suffered similar torture, adding that “the wounds of that dark chapter should not be used as a political prop”. Meanwhile, TVK’s Vijay, who has recently gained a broader television platform through a new media partnership, defended his gesture as “a symbolic expression of frustration with the ruling party’s policies”, rejecting accusations of personal attack.

The exchange has reignited a broader debate over decorum in Tamil Nadu’s legislature and the acceptability of physical‑appearance commentary in political discourse. Critics from civil‑society groups warn that such “body‑shaming” rhetoric detracts from substantive policy discussions, while supporters of the CM argue that invoking the Emergency underscores the seriousness of the opposition’s provocation. As the state’s first budget session under the TVK‑led government unfolds, Speaker Prabhakar has been tasked with maintaining order, with both parties warning that any further personal attacks could lead to disciplinary action.