‘Misogyny Is The Oldest Weapon’: Tamil Nadu Minister S Keerthana Hits Back At Viral Video Trolls

S Keerthana, a Tamil Nadu minister and MLA from Sivakasi, has vehemently refuted allegations surrounding a viral video featuring a woman in a short dress. The minister clarified that she is not the woman in the video and accused supporters of the DMK and AIADMK of using a woman's appearance as a political issue. Keerthana described the controversy as an indication of "fragile, regressive mindset," questioning why a woman's clothing, demeanor, or personal preferences should be subjected to public scrutiny.

In an X post, Keerthana asserted that misogyny is being weaponized for political gain. The video, which showed a woman in a short black dress, led to criticism and online harassment, allegedly originating from DMK-supportive social media accounts. Keerthana indirectly criticized her political rivals, suggesting that personal attacks are often resorted to when there's a lack of substantive criticism against a government's policies or performance.

At a different public gathering, Keerthana accused both the DMK and AIADMK of running false campaigns against women online. The DMK IT wing secretary, TRB Rajaa, condemned the online abuse, emphasizing that women should not be targeted for their personal choices. Rajaa affirmed that the DMK stands firmly for women's dignity, rights, and freedom, and that any behavior crossing acceptable limits will not be tolerated.