‘Minister must apologise for Aachi comments’

Members of the Karaikudi Nagarathar Sangam on Friday sought an apology from Cooperation Minister Sellur K. Raju for his comments on women from Karaikudi when speaking on actor Rajinikanth’s political career.

On Thursday, when asked about Mr. Rajinikanth’s political future, Mr. Raju had said, “Rajini may capture Karaikudi Aachi. Capturing Tamil Nadu politics is in the hands of the people.”

On Friday, members of the community protested against the Minister’s comments.

“Aachi is a word that is in prevalence to refer to women in Tirunelveli and Tamil Nadu. But the Minister specifically said Karaikudi Aachi. This is an insult,” Ranganathan, president of the Sangam told a press conference.

He said “Aachi refers to married women and is referred in a respectful manner in the Nagarathar community. To refer to any married woman and saying that anyone can capture them is in bad taste and distasteful. This is condemnable,” he said.