Categories
Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K Ponmudy has stirred a political storm after making derogatory and caste-laced comments about sex workers during a public speech. The remarks, widely condemned as misogynistic and offensive, have drawn backlash from opposition leaders, women’s rights activists, and even members of his own party, the DMK.
Ponmudy, who was reinstated in the Cabinet last year following a Supreme Court stay on his conviction in a disproportionate assets case, has been removed from his role as DMK Deputy General Secretary. However, he continues to serve as a minister in Chief Minister MK Stalin’s government, prompting calls for his dismissal.
DMK Member of Parliament Kanimozhi strongly criticized Minister K Ponmudy’s comments, taking to social media to express her disapproval. She called the remarks “unacceptable” and “vulgar,” emphasizing that such language has no place in public discourse, regardless of the context.
BJP leader Khushbu Sundar went a step further, urging Chief Minister MK Stalin to take immediate action against Ponmudy. In a sharply worded social media post, she questioned whether Stalin had the “guts” to remove Ponmudy from office. She also accused the DMK of taking “sadistic pleasure” in insulting women and Hinduism through such offensive rhetoric.
Outgoing BJP state chief K Annamalai also slammed the ruling party, calling the DMK “vulgar, foul-mouthed, and uncouth.” He said Stalin should “hang his head in shame” for leading a party that tolerates such remarks.
The controversy erupted after a video clip of Ponmudy’s speech went viral. In it, the minister cracked distasteful jokes with casteist overtones at a public event, prompting widespread condemnation.
Singer and women’s rights activist Chinmayi Sripada expressed deep disappointment in a social media post. Highlighting Ponmudy’s past roles as Minister for Education and Science & Technology, she criticized the culture that allows such rhetoric. “This is a joke. The joke is on us,” she said, lamenting the lack of accountability and invoking the legacy of EV Periyar — the social reformer whose image was ironically displayed at the event.
This isn’t Ponmudy’s first brush with controversy. He previously made headlines for mocking women availing free bus rides and for making derogatory remarks about migrant workers, referring to them as “those selling pani puri in Tamil Nadu.”
The latest uproar comes at a politically sensitive time for the DMK, with Assembly elections looming early next year. The ruling party has been focused on targeting the BJP on issues such as Hindi imposition, delimitation, and the NEET controversy. However, Ponmudy’s comments may derail its momentum and shift attention to internal accountability and gender sensitivity.
Despite the outrage, the DMK leadership has yet to announce whether Ponmudy will be removed from the Cabinet — a decision that may impact the party’s credibility on women’s rights and social justice, especially in the run-up to crucial elections.
Also Read: Delhi Govt Plans “Foolproof, Transparent” Excise Policy to Boost Revenue: CM Rekha Gupta
