‘Misogyny Is The Oldest Weapon’: Tamil Nadu Minister S Keerthana Hits Back At Viral Video Trolls

Tamil Nadu minister and Sivakasi MLA S Keerthana has strongly criticised the circulation of a viral video featuring a woman in a short dress after social media users questioned whether the woman was her.

Clarifying that she was not the woman in the video, Keerthana accused supporters of the DMK and AIADMK of turning a woman’s appearance and clothing into a political issue. She described the controversy as a reflection of a “fragile, regressive mindset” and questioned why a woman’s clothes, appearance or personal choices should become a matter of public scrutiny.

“But even if it were, why should it matter?” Keerthana said in a post on X, adding that misogyny was being used as a political weapon.

The controversy erupted after several social media accounts, reportedly linked to DMK supporters, shared the video and asked whether the woman featured in it was Keerthana. The clip, showing a woman in a short black dress, subsequently drew criticism and online trolling.

Keerthana also took an indirect swipe at her political opponents, saying personal attacks were often used when there was little substantive criticism of a government’s policies or performance.

At a separate public event, she accused both the DMK and AIADMK of running what she called false campaigns against women online.

DMK IT wing secretary TRB Rajaa condemned the online abuse, saying women should not be targeted over their personal choices. He said the DMK stood firmly for women’s dignity, rights and freedom, and that behaviour crossing the limits of decency would not be tolerated.