Tamil Nadu Speaker joins anti-abortion rally, sparks massive row
A major political row has erupted in Tamil Nadu after Assembly Speaker and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader JCD Prabhakar took part in an anti-abortion
A major political row has erupted in Tamil Nadu after Assembly Speaker and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader JCD Prabhakar took part in an anti-abortion rally and spoke against abortion. Critics and opposition parties condemned the remarks as regressive and contrary to women’s rights, arguing that political movements should stand for progressive causes rather than endorse such views. Prabhakar flagged off the 5th March for Life India in Chennai, a Catholic Christian religious event, where thousands of people participated in a rally opposing abortion and advocating for the protection of unborn life. Read Full Story In his address, the 73-year-old TVK leader described the rally as a movement reminding society that life has value even before a child is born. "I consider this rally as a voice reminding us that even before a child sees this world, that life has value," he said. "I consider this an event expressing the belief that every unborn child has dignity," the Speaker added. Prabhakar also invoked religious beliefs while speaking about the importance of childbirth and family and argued that an unborn child had a future and a purpose, adding that he was happy to see the movement centred on that belief. At the rally, the Speaker further criticised what he described as changing attitudes towards having children.
Recalling earlier times when families had larger numbers of children, he said the mindset had gradually shifted from "We two, for us two" to "We two, for us one" and later to delaying childbirth. "Gradually, it reached a point where people started thinking, 'Why have a child at all?' We all know well that this mindset is the root cause of recent trends," he said at the event hosted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI). The Speaker’s remarks drew immediate criticism from various quarters, with critics arguing that women should have absolute autonomy over their bodies and decisions regarding pregnancy. Critics also invoked the case of Savita Halappanavar, a Karnataka-born dentist who died in Ireland from sepsis after her request for an abortion was denied on legal grounds. Her death triggered widespread protests and renewed debate over Ireland’s abortion laws. Some users argued that the Speaker's endorsement of what they described as conservative religious events could contribute to polarisation. They also claimed that Dravidian parties had kept such events at bay for decades and questioned their emergence under Joseph Vijay's leadership. People also questioned whether Vijay and the ruling TVK share the same stance on abortion and women’s rights. The BJP seized on the controversy to question Prabhakar’s participation in a Christian event.
The BriefWire