Chennai: A major political row has erupted after Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Tenkasi south district secretary J. Jayabalan said on Wednesday that Tamil Nadu would improve only if Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “finished off”.
Jayabalan’s speech at a protest in Tenkasi against the special investigative report (SIR) in the state has drawn sharp condemnation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused the ruling DMK of normalising hate speech and fostering an atmosphere of animosity where leaders issue threats against the PM.
In the video, Jayabalan can be heard saying,“(PM) Modi is attempting to steal your votes. He is another Narakasura (a demon from Hindu mythology). Tamil Nadu would improve, only if he is finished off.”
DMK leaders, Sankarankovil MLA E Raja and Tenkasi MP Rani Srikumar, also attended the protest.
ThePrint reached out to Jayabalan, who declined to comment on the controversy. The DMK has not yet issued an official statement.
The remark comes hours before Modi visits Coimbatore to inaugurate the South India Natural Farming Summit, which is expected to draw 5,000 farmers. Modi will also interact with farmers practising organic farming and will honour 10 exemplary farmers, and release the PM-KISAN instalment of Rs 18,000 crore for 9 crore farmers.
Reacting to the DMK leader’s remark, BJP State President Nainar Nagendran has demanded that the state government arrest the DMK leader for issuing a death threat to Modi.
In a post on X, BJP Information Technology wing head Amit Malviya said that Jayabalan’s speech reflected the “hate-filled extremism” thriving under the DMK regime and demanded his immediate arrest: “This is the lawlessness that thrives under the DMK regime, where leaders feel emboldened to issue death threats against the Prime Minister.”
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)
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