The city police has booked the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader and Tamil Nadu MP Thol Thirumavalavan for promoting enmity against different religious groups and demeaning the women during an online seminar. The development came following the complaint filed by BJP cyber cell.
The derogatory remarks were made during an online seminar organized by a Periyarist group citing that as per Hindu scriptures Manusmriti, “Manusmriti and sanatana dharma say all women are prostitutes”.
Thirumavalavan during his speech, stated, “If one were to look at how women are valued in Sanatana Dharma… how they are treated, how they are being suppressed for time immemorial, how they are being exploited… what does Sanatana Dharma say about women?”
He further added, “Women are basically created as prostitutes by God. All women are prostitutes as per Hindu Dharma, Manu Dharma. All women are prostitutes. That is how they have been created by God. They are of lower status than men. This is applicable to Brahmin women as well as women of other castes. This is what the Sanatana Dharma says.”
His speech of September has now gone viral which led to huge furore and protests. Later, he released a statement where he claimed that his words are being twisted.
“Manudharma and Sanatana Dharma are scriptures that have degraded women from time to time. Some groups are twisting what I spoke in an online forum meeting over a month ago and spreading lies about it. Dr Ambedkar had, back then, highlighted how Manusmriti degraded women and had burned a copy of it. Periyar had also spoken about the atrocities and burned a copy of the Manusmriti. Time and time again several leaders have highlighted this and yet injustice towards women prevails,” the statement says.
BJP state secretary of Cyber Cell, A Ashwathaman had filed a complaint in which he alleged that Thirumavalavan took a dig at the Hindu text and ‘Sanathana Dharmam’ while speaking at a webinar hosted by a private Youtube channel. VCK leader is booked under 153, 153 (A)(1)(a), 295 A, 298, 505 (1)(b) and 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code.
VCK founder and Chidambaram MP M Thol has urged everyone to join the state-wide protest on Saturday seeking ban on the Hindu religious text, Manusmriti citing the grounds that it demeans women, the backward castes and indigenous groups, and spreads hatred against them.
