Stalin recalls MISA prison abuse, rejects Vijay's corruption allegations

DMK president M K Stalin on Thursday broke his silence over Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's "jaw gesture" in the Assembly regarding MISA remarks, recalling the severe physical abuse he endured in prison during Emergency.

Flaying Vijay for raising decades-old corruption allegations citing the Sarkaria Commission report, Stalin dismissed them as "politically motivated lies" spread by those who held long-standing grudges against former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Clarifying his history during the MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) period, the former Chief Minister in a video posted on "X", acknowledged that Vijay was correct regarding the MISA history, recounting the suppression during the Emergency, including his own arrest on January 31, 1976, after Karunanidhi protested against the MISA law.

Stalin detailed the harsh conditions he faced in prison, including abuse, which led to the death of his colleague Chitti Babu and injuries to himself.

"I realise that some controversies that occurred in the recently concluded Legislative Assembly session have caused anger and dissatisfaction among the Tamil people and our brethren. Since my prison history is a key part of this controversy, I wish to clarify it. Brother Vijay, what you said is true; it is not a lie. During the Emergency, our leader Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) held a massive meeting at Marina Beach to oppose it and harshly criticised the MISA," Stalin said in the video.

Following this, the then-Union Government dismissed the DMK government on January 31, 1976. The very next second, the police came to his Gopalapuram residence to arrest him under the MISA act.

"I was not home that day, as I had gone for a campaign. Our leader told them, 'my son has gone for a campaign. He will return tomorrow. Once he comes, I will call you myself; come and arrest him.' The next day, when I returned, he himself asked the police to come and arrest me," Stalin said.

During a heated exchange in the Assembly on September 7, Chief Minister Vijay while speaking about MISA and Stalin's detention, made a hand gesture where he held or knocked his own jaw.

The opposition DMK then immediately protested leading to chaos in the House.

Over the years, the DMK has been maintaining that following his 1976 arrest under MISA Act during Emergency, Stalin was subjected to brutal police torture inside the Chennai Central prison, leaving him with a fractured jawbone.

Vijay quickly issued a clarification to de-escalate the controversy. On September 8, Vijay stated that his body language was an involuntary, accidental, and spontaneous expression.

"My body language was an involuntary expression. I would like to make it known that it was not in any way intentional. Therefore, I kindly request that it should not be interpreted as an act intended to hurt anyone's feelings on a personal level," the Chief Minister clarified.

In the nearly10-minute video message released in response to the political row, Stalin asserted that his broken jaw was an unalterable "brave scar" of history.

"I faced many atrocities in prison. They locked us up in a place where leprosy patients were kept. They stuffed 10 people into a small room. In that same room, we all had to relieve ourselves in a single pot. The place was very foul-smelling; that is where we had to sleep. We were not allowed to sleep at night; the police would beat us with batons and trample us with boots," Stalin said recalling the bitter ordeal.

To make matters worse, life-convict inmates were made to beat them (Stalin and other DMK members) brutally.

"My dear brother and Member of Parliament Chitti Babu, who was with me, died in prison because of their beatings. My jawbone was broken from their hits. You even placed your hand on your jaw to show it, and that is correct. Even today, I have the scars from those beatings. I am not saying I didn't experience it," Stalin said.

"Fictional accounts cannot erase history," Stalin said, urging critics to verify archival records in the Legislative Assembly library.

"Fighting oppression and enduring consequences is embedded in the DMK’s legacy since the days of Arignar Anna," he added invoking the name of DMK founder and former CM.

Stalin firmly rejected corruption allegations linked to the historical Sarkaria Commission, labeling them recycled political grievances.

On the recent Enforcement Directorate investigations cited by ruling TVK, he criticised the agency's political utilisation, pointing out that 95 percent of ED cases nationwide fail to stand up in court.

He questioned the political framing of these cases within legislative debates, calling on elected representatives to uphold decorum.

"The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has a legacy sculpted by great leaders. Debate law and order, welfare schemes, and state rights instead of driving unnecessary controversy," he advised.

He crirticised the state government's decision to cancel Parandur Airport project as a 15-year setback to Tamil Nadu's industrial development.

In his concluding remarks, the DMK chief stressed that electoral setbacks do not diminish the party’s responsibility to the electorate. He pledged that the DMK would continue to champion Tamil Nadu's rights and public welfare from the opposition benches.

"Whether in power or not, fighting for the rights and growth of Tamil Nadu remains our commitment," Stalin stated.

"That history will not change," he stressed.