The Tamil Nadu government's decision to prohibit public celebrations of Vinayaka Chathurthi due to the coronavirus pandemic, has led to a war of words between the AIADMK and the BJP on Twitter. Shockingly, both parties who are alied resorted to sexist comments to make their points, harping on the 'masculinity' of their leaders.
The tweet war began with BJP's national secretary H Raja's controversial tweet. He stated that the Karnataka Government had allowed public processions and celebrations in the state for the festival and that this indicated a 'masculine government.' This statement was clearly meant to insult the AIADMK, and later turned into a jibe at former CM J Jayalalithaa who lead the party for years.
கர்நாடகாவில் விநாயகர் சிலைகளை பிரதிஷ்டை செய்யவும் சதுர்த்தி கொண்டாடவும் அனுமதி. ஆண்மையுள்ள அரசு.
— H Raja (@HRajaBJP) August 19, 2020
The AIADMK's IT wing secretary Raj Satyan in turn stated on his Twitter handle that the BJP leader's comments were of no importance to his party. He too however took a sexist approach in his retort.
நீதிமன்றத்தை பழித்துப்பேசி பின் அட்மின் தவறென்று பதுங்கிய போதே உங்கள் ஆண்மை தெரியும் எங்களுக்கு,
— Raj Satyen (@satyenaiadmk) August 19, 2020
மக்கள் பணியை மகேசன் பணியாக ஆற்றும் அம்மா அரசுக்கு சர்மாக்களின் சான்று தேவையில்லை,
சுயேச்சையாக 999 ஓட்டுக்கு மேல் வாங்கி மக்களிடத்தில்,
உங்கள் அரசியல் ஆண்மையே நிரூபியுங்களேன் @HRajaBJP https://t.co/Om3H8oHy89
"We came to know about your masculinity when you insulted the court and then bowed down claiming your admin had made a mistake. The 'Amma' government which looks at public work as God's work does not need a certificate from Sharmas (referring to Raja's family name) such as you," he tweeted.
The AIADMK leader further challenged Raja to win over 999 votes (the number he had secured in a previous election) and prove his masculinity.
Party spokesperson Kovai Satyan too pitched to offer his definition for masculinity and said it was actually winning in the scouts elections. Raja had won only 58 of the 286 votes polled.
ஆண்மை என்பது யாதெனில் சாரணர் தேர்தலில் வெற்றி பெறுதல்.
— Kovai Sathyan (@KovaiSathyan) August 19, 2020
நவீன திருவள்ளுவர்.#ஆண்மகன்
In 2017, H Raja had lost the Bharat Scouts and Guides (Tamil Nadu) elections. He had ensured the election was high-profile through his candidature. The DMK had even alleged that the AIADMK was helping Raja win the elections, but the BJP leader ultimately lost with a huge margin.
The BJP however continued to make sexist remarks, insinuating that AIADMK leaders had hid behind former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's pallu (saree) for 30 years and that their masculinity had not made an appearance.
BJP State Convenor for IT and Social media, Nirmal Kumar further said, "For 30 years your masculinity was hidden behind a saree. I am proud of the masculinity that reared its head after visiting India's chief (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) in Delhi."
முந்தானைக்கு பின்னால் ஒளிந்து 30 வருடங்களாக தலை நிமிராமல் இருந்த ஆண்மை ...
— CTR.Nirmal kumar (@CTR_Nirmalkumar) August 19, 2020
டெல்லியில் பாரதத்தின் தலைமகனை சந்தித்தபின் தலைநிமிர்ந்த ஆண்மையை நினைத்து பெருமை கொள்ளுங்கள்...#ஆண்மை
Raja has now continued to comment on the matter and asked how state can run liquor outlets when processions for the festival are disallowed.