'I Hold Immense Concern For Mother, Motherland, Mother Tongue': Tamil Nadu BJP Chief On Vijay Remark Row

Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran on Saturday sought to clarify his controversial remarks aimed at Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and Chief Minister Vijay, saying his comments at a recent event were being “twisted and misrepresented” for political gain.

The controversy erupted after Nagendran, while speaking at the BJP's state headquarters Kamalalayam on Saturday, appeared to target Vijay over his recent political remarks. "When people search for a father in the House and cannot find him, they should ask the mother at home to know who the father is," Nagendran was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

The remark triggered a political row, with critics accusing the state BJP chief of making a personal comment on Chief Minister Vijay's mother. The comment comes in the context of CM Vijay's repeated digs at Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin over his father MK Stalin's defeat in Kolathur, asking Udhayanidhi where his father was.

Responding to the controversy, Nagendran said his speech during the book release event of Oru Naadu 2.0 had not been directed at any individual or delivered with any ulterior motive.

“Those who seek to twist and misrepresent the speech I delivered on stage for political gain—I wish to inform them that I did not speak targeting anyone with any ulterior motive,” Nagendran said.

He further stressed his reverence for the "mother, motherland and mother tongue". "I am one who holds immense concern for the mother, for the motherland, and for the mother tongue," he added.

Nagendran's remarks have added another flashpoint to the BJP-TVK political exchanges, even as both sides continue to trade barbs over their respective political positions and narratives.

Annamalai Condemns Nagendran's Remark

K Annamalai openly criticised Nagendran's comments, saying it was deeply regrettable that the BJP state chief had crossed the line of political decency by making remarks about the Chief Minister's mother.

He said leaders can disagree, criticise policies, and question the government, but attacking someone's family, especially their mother, is simply not acceptable. He called it outdated politics that has no place in today's Tamil Nadu and said young people and children should not be taught this kind of behaviour.