Chennai: In less than a week of joining the BJP, South Indian actor Kushbu has become the face of the saffron party's agitation against Dalit leader and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol. Thirumavalavan, MP, for his remarks about 'Manu Smriti', the ancient Hindu social and ethical code.
“The protests will continue till Thirumavalavan tenders an apology,” she told the media after her arrest at suburban Muttukadu en route to Chidambaram to participate in a protest by the party's women's wing. The glamour doll of yesteryears and prominent soap queen has been unrelenting in her demand for an apology.
The controversy arose out of an address by the Dalit leader nearly a month ago at a virtual seminar organised by the European Periyarist Organisation wherein he had blamed Manu for codifying patriarchy and the degradation of women. The BJP and fraternal Hindutva outfits have taken offence and have trained their guns on the Lok Sabha MP, who is an ally of the opposition DMK. Their charge is that Thirumavalavan's remark was an insult to Indian women and hence should apologise. Interestingly, they believe they have found a stick to beat the MP, who has been steadfast in his strident opposition to the BJP and the Sangh Parivar. And now, Kushbu is the poster-girl of the stir being held across the state.
But there is a subtext to it. She is taking on the parliamentarian 15 years after being hounded out by the VCK and the OBC Vanniyar dominant Pattali Makkal Katchi in 2005 for her comments about pre-marital sex. In the present situation, it appears that she has been returning Thirumavalavan by the same coin.
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In an interview to a Tamil magazine, she had said “No educated man would expect his fiancee to be a virgin. But, when engaging in pre-marital sex, a woman should protect herself from becoming pregnant and contracting sexually transmitted diseases.” As a consequence, all hell broke loose. Taking it to be a licence for free sex, pro-Tamil parties including the VCK castigated her for debunking chastity of Tamil women. They organised protests and filed a plethora of cases in courts across the state. Wielding broomsticks, VCK cadre laid siege near her residence. Similar protests were held in many places.
Eventually, it was she who had the last laugh with the Supreme Court dismissing the 22 cases against her. She continues to remind the VCK about it ever since the Manu Smriti controversy broke out. “Though a woman, I was hounded out but I had emerged victorious. I had the courage to stand up to bullying,” she says.
Not willing to lay things down, the VCK too held state-wide demonstrations to press for a ban on Manu Smriti. Speaking at a protest early this week in Chennai, Thirumavalavan said he could not be cowed down by the 'Satanic forces'. “I am ready to engage anyone. My speech in its entirety has been left out and a portion is misquoted. But, out fight against the Satanic forces would continue,” was his response.
He had received support from the DMK and the allies including the Congress, MDMK and the Left beside the Tamil Nationalist 'Naam Tamilar Katchi' (NTK). All these parties and the rationalist Dravidar Kazhagam (DMK) have condemned the Chennai police for registering an FIR against Thirumavalavan and demanded that the cops withdraw the case.
The state BJP and fraternal Sangh Parivar outfits have rallied behind Kushbu on this issue.
While Speaking to ETV Bharat on this issue, Political analyst Aazhi Sendhilnathan says, "BJP is using to its advantage the past friction between Kushbu and Thirumavalavan. The fact remains that Thirumavalavan had said that Kushbu was entitled to her views but could have made them without hurting entrenched Tamil sentiments. He had clarified this at an event in 2008. While Kushbu appears to be interested in resurrecting her image which has taken a beating after joining the BJP, for the saffron party, it is an attempt to gain political mileage."
He also added that "Kushbu's good fame in Tamil Nadu for her strong opinion now started to defame after her entry into BJP"
Watch: BJP leader Khusboo detained on way to protest against Thirumavalavan
