Vijay Sparks Controversy in Nagapattinam Rally with Remarks on Eelam Tamils, Prabhakaran

Nagapattinam, September 19, 2025 — Tamil actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay has stirred controversy with comments at a political rally, where he voiced strong solidarity with Eelam Tamils and made references praising the late LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

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Key Points from Vijay’s Speech

1. Vijay described Eelam Tamils as “umbilical-cord kin,” highlighting what he called inseparable cultural and emotional ties between Tamils in Tamil Nadu and Tamils across the Palk Strait.

2. He remarked: “The Eelam Tamils, whether in Sri Lanka or elsewhere, are suffering today after losing a leader who gave them motherly love,” — widely interpreted as a reference to Prabhakaran.

3. The TVK leader insisted it was the “duty of Tamils in India to raise their voice” for Sri Lankan Tamils enduring hardship and statelessness.

4. Rally attendees reportedly cheered the speech, and posters featuring Prabhakaran were visible at the venue.

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Political and Social Impact

1. Vijay’s speech has rekindled debate in Tamil Nadu, where the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils remains an emotional and politically charged issue.

2. His remarks are particularly sensitive because Prabhakaran is recognized as the mastermind behind the 1991 assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and the LTTE remains a banned organization in India.

3. While critics condemned his comments as irresponsible and provocative, supporters framed his words as part of Tamil Nadu’s long-standing tradition of standing up for Sri Lankan Tamils.

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Vijay’s Political Positioning

1. This is not Vijay’s first public stand on the Eelam Tamil issue; he has previously participated in hunger strikes and voiced support for Tamil rights abroad.

2. His latest statement reflects a strategy of Tamil nationalist positioning, aiming to consolidate the emotional backing of younger voters and identity-driven supporters.

3. However, the speech has also drawn attention from national parties, raising questions about how such rhetoric might affect TVK’s attempt to expand beyond Tamil Nadu’s state politics.

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Analysis

Vijay’s remarks underscore the delicate intersection of Tamil identity politics, regional nationalism, and India’s national security sensitivities. By evoking Prabhakaran—simultaneously a symbol of Tamil resistance and a convicted assassin in Indian history—Vijay risks polarizing public opinion.

As Tamil Nadu heads toward the 2026 Assembly elections, political observers say Vijay’s calculated embrace of the Eelam Tamil cause could both energize his core supporters and expose him to intense criticism at the national level.

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