Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar attended the 5th National March for Life on August 8 and 9, organised by the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore at Stella Maris College, Chennai, which saw the participation of over 5,000 people. The event openly criticised the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act and abortion, and advocated the protection of unborn life.
Prabhakar’s speech at the event was in tune with global anti-abortion sentiments, highlighting opposition to abortion rights and advocating for the protection of unborn life. He said the rally served as a reminder that life had value even before birth, adding that the event expressed the belief that every unborn child had dignity and that every life had a future and purpose. He referred to it as a “God-given intention” and said during the rally: “Let’s stop abortion.” Reports of his remarks have also quoted him as saying that “life begins at conception”.
The Speaker’s participation has triggered criticism, with BJP leaders questioning his presence at an event organised by Christian organisations and his position on abortion rights.
Reacting to this, activist Shalin Maria Lawrence, in a post on X, condemned the Speaker’s participation, saying: “What a stupid thing to do! Abortion rights in India are constitutional. Let these Bishops go to America and preach these anti-women propaganda. How did JCD Prabhakar even agree to this? Is Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu agreeing to this concept of denying bodily autonomy to women? Health Minister Arunraj kindly advise your party on this. You must know better than them.”
Health Minister KG Arunraj clarified on August 10 that abortions can be a medical necessity and are strictly governed under national law.
TN BJP Chief Spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathi said: “I saw some visuals of Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar participating in a Christian/Catholic religious procession against abortion. Various slogans opposing women’s rights were raised during that procession. 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.”
He said: “In 1971, Mother Teresa, who was under the direct control of the Vatican, spoke against the law. According to Christian principles and Catholic conservative ideology, she had said that ‘abortion is wrong’ and strongly condemned the legislation. She argued that the government cannot change ‘God’s will’, that abortion is against Christian rules and the commandments of God (Jesus Christ), and repeatedly cited the Sixth Commandment — ‘Thou shalt not kill’ — in her speeches opposing abortion.
Narayanan Thirupathi said: “Speaker Prabhakaran demanded that the Seerani Arangam on Marina Beach be renovated again to conduct prayer meetings. It is alleged that during that period, the Seerani Arangam frequently hosted Christian conversion meetings, leading to several complaints. When Ms J Jayalalithaa was Chief Minister, the Seerani Arangam was demolished overnight….”
He said: “These political parties and politicians themselves are the real communal parties and the people of Tamil Nadu will understand that what they preach is pseudo-secularism.”
According to reports, Dr Alka Barua, project advisory committee member and abortion theme lead at Commonwealth India, said: “It should be her choice. Her health is at stake. It depends on her ability. Opposing abortion is not pro-life. It is anti-choice. Women’s lives are equally important.”
TN BJP Chief Nainar Nagendran accused the Assembly Speaker and Finance Minister of promoting the beliefs of a particular religion while holding constitutional positions. He said in a social media post that the Speaker had participated in an anti-abortion campaign organised by Christian organisations. “Whether the Speaker was acting as the protector of the Constitution or a preacher of a religion?”
Organisers and prominent guests
The two-day event was hosted by the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore and organised by CHARIS India under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), in collaboration with several organisations, including EVA Pro Life, Jesus Youth Pro Life, MFC Live Life, Madras Service of Communion, YU4C Pro Life, and the CCBI Pro Life and Bio Ethics Commission.
Among the chief guests were Cardinal Antony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad and President of the CBCI; Archbishop George Antonysamy of Madras-Mylapore and President of the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council; Archbishop Francis Kalist of Pondicherry-Cuddalore, Episcopal Advisor to CHARIS India and CBCI Pro-Life In-charge; Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar; and Dr Paul Dhinakaran, a prominent leader of Jesus Calls Ministry.
TVK Finance Minister N Marie Wilson’s controversy over Tamil language
On Finance Minister N Marie Wilson, the BJP leader said that “he was born a Christian and knew the language of love and peace. He should keep his personal beliefs to himself while discharging his responsibilities as a member of government.”
Hindu Munnani state president Kadeswara C Subramaniam, in a statement, questioned: “Are they attempting to Christianise the State Legislature?” The Finance Minister Wilson has insulted the Tamil language. His anger and subsequent religious-based comments are a blot on the state’s political culture and an insult”.
The controversy comes amid criticism of the C Joseph Vijay-led TVK government appointing cronies from the film world and accommodating Loyola-linked individuals in key positions of government. Hindu Munnani has termed the move the “Christianisation of Tamil Nadu”, reminiscent of the colonial British Raj. Critics point to the speech of a minister inside the Assembly and the participation of the Speaker in a Christian event as giving credence to their accusations.
Critics point out that “only on that day, CM Joseph Vijay moved a resolution on Tamil Thai Vazthu. He said ‘his government would not compromise on protecting the pride of Tamil and offering first honour to Tamil was the duty of the state. Tamil was not a mere language but a source of gethu (pride), and the language holds a power of its own’.”
But he was watching silently when his ministers were “killing the Tamil” with their poor knowledge and pronunciations on the floor of the Assembly.
In another controversy, Finance Minister N Marie Wilson brought a rosary case along with the Budget papers to the Assembly and started reading after ending with “Amen” while touching his head and shoulders, symbolising the Holy Cross. He faced comments over his delivery of Tamil words and poor pronunciation. One of the members alleged that Wilson’s Tamil pronunciation had mistakes and that he extensively used English words. “As a Tamil enthusiast, I observed in his speech that he had skipped many of the Tamil sentences.” Wilson’s carrying of a rosary alongside the Budget documents and making the sign of the cross was also reported during the Budget proceedings.
Responding to this, Wilson said: “I will speak in my own style. Earlier they were body-shaming others and were insulting others based on caste and gender. Now they are insulting us over language. Citing the Bible, the Finance Minister Wilson said, ‘While I may not be well versed in Tamil, my Christianity has taught me the language of love, peace, kindness and compassion — things that half the people here wouldn’t understand, no matter how much Tamil they have studied. I am a born Christian. I would speak in my own style and I could not change it to suit others’.”
Netizen Sanghi Prince said in an X post: “Christianity has taught me the language of love, mercy and peace. People who are blaming my Tamil spelling mistakes should learn, says the TVK Govt Finance Minister. He is famous for attempting to assault women with a wooden log. Now teaching love, mercy and peace”.
Another user posted a video of Wilson attacking with a wooden club, questioning his claims about peace, language and kindness: “Is that what he meant?”
