Chinmayi calls out Kamal Haasan over tweet

In a tweet that has gone viral, Haasan on Saturday had responded to a tweet by the founder of NGO Food Bank India and Maadhar Padai - (MNM women wing)'s member Sneha Mohandoss who had uploaded a video of her practicing self-defense saying, "When non-violence meets violence, there is no combat; clearly the criminal is exposed. Your confidence can do more damage than pepper spray."

Chennai:Singer Chinmayi Sripada on Saturday criticized Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) president Kamal Haasan for his tweet over women's ability to defend themselves from domestic violence and molestation with 'dignity and equipoise'.

In a tweet that has gone viral, Haasan on Saturday had responded to a tweet by the founder of NGO Food Bank India and Maadhar Padai - (MNM women wing)'s member Sneha Mohandoss who had uploaded a video of her practicing self-defense saying, "When non-violence meets violence, there is no combat; clearly the criminal is exposed. Your confidence can do more damage than pepper spray."

Reacting to this Tweet, Sripada castigated the actor-turned-politician for his tweet downplaying the learning of self-defense and instead, using confidence to protect oneself from abuses.

The singer also tweeted a 2014 interview of MNM president where he can be seen saying, “If your mind is clean, no one will approach you” ( “manasu sutthama irundha yaarum varamaatanga”) and said, "this is textbook victim-blaming."

Several netizens also joined in criticizing Hasaan over his tweets saying the response was sexist, misogynistic, and an example of victim-blaming.

Besides Sripada, Congress leader Lakshmi Ramachandran, Social activist, and feminist Dhivya Marunthiah and other female journalists called Hasaan out for his 'advise'.

However, after much was said and done, Mohandoss on Sunday quoted Haasan's tweet clarifying that his words have been misinterpreted and he meant that [women] should rather stand and face a criminal with confidence than pepper spray him and run away.

Chinmayi Sripada had in 2019 accused National award-winning lyricist Vairamuthu of sexual misconduct, the investigation of which is still on.

Haasan who advocates for equal rights for women in his party and has been often quoted giving a piece of his mind regarding ways that women should follow to protect themselves from abuse, molestation etc.

Back when the MeToo movement was raging in the nation, Haasan had asked why the onus of the crime [rape] should be on the perpetrator itself?