MDMK event row: Partymen leave as Vaiko speaks; journalists attacked for filming empty chair

Journalist unions in Tamil Nadu have accused Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko of instigating violence and demanded action against him after a few media persons were allegedly roughed up at a party meeting.

 

The alleged incident took place at Sathur in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.  

 

According to a post on X by Chennai Press Club, while Vaiko was addressing the gathering, some party workers began to leave the venue and the journalists who were present there filmed the scene. This infuriated the party chief who reportedly abused the media persons, using inappropriate and offensive language.

 

"Furthermore, he reportedly ordered the party cadres present to seize the journalists' recording equipment. Acting on his instructions, MDMK cadres attacked the journalists and damaged their equipment. Several journalists were injured in this attack," it said. 

 

A video shared on social media, which cannot be independently verified, showed Vaiko shouting at journalists, saying: "You are clicking empty chairs, do you have any intelligence? Why don't you take pictures of the thousand people waiting outside? Snatch their camera and throw the film."

 

The Chennai Press Club urged police to immediately register a case under the appropriate sections against those who committed the assault and also against Vaiko for “instigating” it.

 

"It is highly condemnable that a senior politician like Mr Vaiko, once considered a strong voice in democracy, has behaved in such a manner,” it said.

 

Vaiko’s MDMK is an ally of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

 

Earlier, while speaking to reporters in Madurai on Tuesday, Vaiko said the DMK, under Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s leadership, would secure a clear majority in the 2026 assembly elections and form the government on its own.

India