Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 22 : Tamil Nadu Minister Aadhav Arjuna on Friday slammed Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader A Raja over his "bent coconut tree" jibe at Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League and said the DMK leader should apologise for his comments.
He said the coalition government led by actor-turned-politician Vijay has proven it is keeping its promises.
"As a coalition government, we have proven that we keep our promises. The political pattern set by the DMK and AIADMK over the past 50 years no longer exists. We have IUML and VCK in the Cabinet, which reflects the ideology of Periyar... A Raja's tweet is condemnable, and he should offer a public apology. Kanimozhi, who always speaks for women's rights, should ask her party members to respect women," Aadhav Arjuna said.
"The tweet against Thirumavalavan, degrading him through comments targeting women, is unacceptable... I have spoken to the Governor, and CM Vijay has also spoken to the Governor. However, according to the rules followed at Lok Bhavan, they must adhere to the protocol regarding Vande Mataram and the National Anthem," he added.
The controversy erupted after Raja posted a cryptic literary tweet about a coconut tree grown in one's garden bending over to give water to a neighbour. The TVK quickly decoded the metaphor, identifying it as a derogatory attack on smaller social justice parties like the VCK and the IUML for having extended support to the VCK in forming the government.
MLAs from the VCK and the IUML--both traditionally aligned with the DMK--took oath of office as ministers under the newly-formed TVK coalition government.
In a post on X, the DMK Deputy general secretary drew a parallel using the classical literary concept of Muttatthengu--a term describing a coconut tree planted in one's own yard that bends over to yield its fruit and water to a neighbour's house to frame a question about contemporary political behaviour.
"If the coconut in my home garden bends over and offers tender water to the opposite house, in literature, that would be named 'muttatthengu'! What name should we give it in politics? Long live Tamil!" Raja wrote.