AIADMK Rajya Sabha Member C.Ve. Shanmugam speaks during a protest organised by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Villupuram on March 17, 2026
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
AIADMK Rajya Sabha Member C.Ve. Shanmugam, on Tuesday (March 17, 2026), stoked a controversy after he made a derogatory reference to a female actor during a protest organised by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Villupuram.
Mr. Shanmugam made the comment at the protest while criticising Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s ‘Unga Kanava Sollunga’ scheme.
“While the former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam encouraged students to dream, the Chief Minister has gone a step further, asking people to share their dreams,” he said, before making a controversial remark alluding to dreams and a female actor.
The remarks triggered sharp backlash from various political parties.
Published – March 17, 2026 05:42 pm IST