Controversy Ignites as Actor Vijay's Father Praises Rajiv Gandhi Assassin Nalini Sriharan's 'Motherly Love'

A fresh political storm has erupted in Tamil Nadu following controversial remarks made by veteran filmmaker SA Chandrasekar, father of popular actor Vijay. Chandrasekar, often a subject of media scrutiny due to his son’s speculated entry into politics, recently praised Nalini Sriharan, a convicted assassin in the Rajiv Gandhi murder case, for exhibiting “motherly love” towards Sri Lankan Tamils.

These comments, made during an interview with a Tamil YouTube channel, have ignited immediate and fierce condemnation, particularly from the Congress party.

Chandrasekar's statements centered on an incident where Nalini Sriharan reportedly displayed compassion towards a Sri Lankan Tamil woman seeking asylum in India.

According to Chandrasekar, this woman found herself in a dire situation, and Nalini, taking pity on her, offered assistance. Chandrasekar characterized this act as “motherly love” (Paasam), suggesting it stemmed from a deep empathy for the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Nalini Sriharan, it is crucial to recall, was one of the prime conspirators in the 1991 assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Initially sentenced to death, her sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment, and she was eventually released from prison by the Supreme Court in 2022 after spending over three decades behind bars. Her involvement in such a heinous crime makes any praise directed towards her highly sensitive and politically charged.

The backlash was swift and severe.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram led the charge, vehemently condemning Chandrasekar’s remarks. Taking to social media, Chidambaram questioned the acceptability of lauding an individual convicted of a terror act, asking, "Is it okay to praise a person convicted of assassinating our former Prime Minister, calling her ‘motherly’?” Other Congress leaders echoed similar sentiments, expressing outrage that a public figure would seemingly valorize a convicted assassin, especially given the tragic history surrounding the incident.

In response to the escalating criticism, SA Chandrasekar issued a clarification, attempting to contextualize his original statements.

He asserted that he was misinterpreted and denied praising a “terrorist.” Chandrasekar maintained that his comments were focused solely on Nalini’s “pity” (Karunai) towards a desperate individual, rather than an endorsement of her past actions or a glorification of her role in the assassination.

He further elaborated that his intention was to highlight the humanitarian aspect of the situation and his long-standing empathy for the struggles faced by Sri Lankan Tamils.

“If you view the entire interview, you will understand the context,” Chandrasekar urged, implying that snippets were taken out of context to fuel controversy.

He underscored his deep connection to the Sri Lankan Tamil cause, stating that he has consistently spoken out about their hardships. Despite his clarification, the incident has undoubtedly added another layer of complexity to the already buzzing speculation surrounding actor Vijay's highly anticipated political debut.

As Tamil Nadu’s political landscape continues to evolve, such sensitive statements from individuals close to potential political entrants are bound to face intense scrutiny and debate.