Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Aug 11: A political controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu after Assembly Speaker and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader JCD Prabhakar participated in an anti-abortion rally in Chennai and spoke in favour of protecting unborn life, drawing criticism from opposition parties and rights advocates.
Prabhakar, 73, flagged off the 5th National March for Life India, a Catholic Christian event organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI). Thousands participated in the rally, which opposed abortion and advocated protection of unborn children.
Addressing the gathering, Prabhakar said the event served as a reminder that life has value even before birth and that every unborn child has dignity.
“I consider this rally as a voice reminding us that even before a child sees this world, that life has value,” he said. He added that the rally reflected the belief that every unborn child has dignity.
Prabhakar also spoke about changing attitudes towards childbirth and family size. Recalling a time when larger families were common, he said the mindset had gradually changed from “We two, for us two” to “We two, for us one” and eventually to postponing or avoiding childbirth altogether.
“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.
His remarks drew criticism from several quarters, with opponents arguing that women should have autonomy over their bodies and decisions concerning pregnancy. Critics also referred to the case of Savita Halappanavar, a Karnataka-born dentist who died of sepsis in Ireland after she was denied an abortion, an incident that sparked widespread protests and renewed debate over abortion laws.
The controversy also triggered a political debate over Prabhakar's participation in a Christian religious event. BJP leader Vinoj P Selvam questioned whether similar reactions would follow if a Hindu organisation had organised an anti-abortion march.
BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said Prabhakar’s participation was contrary to women's rights, pointing out that abortion is legally permitted in India under specified circumstances.
“Even though abortion is legal under Indian law, slogans such as ‘abortion is murder’ and other demands opposing the abortion law were raised. The Speaker's participation in this event has now become controversial as it is against the rights of women,” Thirupathy said.
He added that while there was nothing wrong with the Speaker following the Christian faith, publicly promoting religious beliefs in a manner that could influence the wider public was inappropriate.
The controversy also prompted questions over whether TVK founder and actor Vijay shares Prabhakar’s views on abortion and women's rights. Critics on social media questioned the emergence of such conservative positions within the party.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Health Minister KG Arunraj distanced the government from the Speaker’s remarks and stressed that abortion is regulated by law and can, in certain circumstances, be medically necessary.
Arunraj said he was unaware of the context in which Prabhakar made his remarks and urged people not to misunderstand them.
“Abortion is regulated through the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act,” the minister said, adding that the law permits abortion up to 20 weeks of pregnancy under specified conditions.
He also stressed that abortion can be a definitive medical necessity in several medical circumstances.
The minister sought to distinguish Prabhakar’s personal views from the state’s legal and healthcare framework, saying the government’s position remains governed by existing law.