AIADMK MP C Ve Shanmugam came up with an insulting comment on actress Nayanthara. During an AIADMK protest in Villupuram, Shanmugam said, “I want Nayanthara, will you fulfill? Will the Chief Minister fulfill someone's dream to marry Nayanthara?”
This shocking remark, drew criticism from all quarters. Following this, South Indian Film Artistes Association (SIAA) has strongly condemned the remark.In a statement addressed to the MP, the association said it had received widespread outrage from members of the film fraternity following a video of his recent speech. It began, "To Honorable Member of Parliament Mr C V Shanmugam, we have come across the extremely derogatory and shameful video of your recent speech. Since then, strong condemnations and expressions of anger from members of the film fraternity have been pouring in through mobile communications. During an election, political parties may express their views and ideologies as they wish; however, those in positions of responsibility, especially those elected by the people must exercise utmost care and dignity in their choice of words."
In a strongly worded statement it further mentioned the following things.
"Unfortunately, you abandoned parliamentary decorum and made highly objectionable remarks over a public address system, dragging our colleague, actress Nayanthara, into your speech. This is strongly condemnable,"
"Sir, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam once urged people to dream. But can such dreams of the people be fulfilled by asking a neighbouring country? The dreams of the people are about having a roof over a poor man's head, education for a farmer's son, employment opportunities for a middle-class woman, infrastructure for entrepreneurs, and security for the soldier guarding our borders. In such a context, how can we appreciate the manner in which you openly and shamelessly expressed your own "dream" at a public gathering?"
‘Are there not enough examples of powerful women in politics?’, "This is the era of women. There is no field where they are absent from launching rockets into the sky to serving as doctors, teachers, lawyers, operating heavy machinery, and even driving buses. Are there not enough examples of powerful women in politics, such as Indira Gandhi and your own leader, Jayalalithaa? In such a scenario, what kind of political decency is it to speak so disrespectfully about women in the film industry? Is this what your ideology teaches? Were you guided to speak this way by your leaders, or do they endorse such remarks?"
“Because you still hold the respect accorded to a representative elected by the people, we, the members of the film fraternity, collectively and with one voice, demand an apology from you. We also seek your assurance that you will not, in the future, speak disrespectfully about women associated with our industry.”