'Life begins at conception': Tamil Nadu Speaker sparks row over anti-abortion remarks

Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar attended the 5th National March for Life as the chief guest on August 8 and 9.During the gathering, which protested abortion rights and advocated for the protection of unborn life, he reportedly said that “life begins at conception," as cited by PTI.The event, hosted by the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore at Stella Maris College, drew more than 5,000 participants.

The gathering also explicitly criticised the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act.Prabhakar’s remarks echoed global anti-abortion sentiments expressed at the event, which focused on opposing abortion rights and advocating for the protection of unborn life.The remarks prompted state Health Minister K G Arunraj to clarify on Monday that abortions can be a medical necessity and are strictly regulated under national law.Responding to reporters during a press conference to announce the MBBS/BDS rank list for 2026-27, the Health Minister sought to address the controversy, saying he was unaware of the context in which the Speaker made the remarks and urging the public not to misinterpret them."Abortion is regulated through the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act," the minister stated."Legally, as per the current law, women can legally undergo an abortion up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

In the medical field, across many circumstances, abortion is a definitive medical necessity, and it is something we must do."Asked about the constitutional and political implications of the Speaker’s anti-abortion stance, the minister sought to distinguish the state’s health framework from Prabhakar’s personal views.“I do not know in what sense the Honourable Assembly Speaker made those comments.

Please do not misunderstand it,” he said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.