Tamil Nadu police arrest ‘Tada’ Abdul Rahim for threatening to cut the janeu of Brahmins

'Tada' Abdul Rahim posted on FB, calling people to join in cutting janeu from Brahmins in front of the Sankara Mutt at Kancheepuram.

Tamil Nadu cybercrime wing of Chennai police has arrested Indian National League (INL) state president 'Tada' Abdul Rahim after Hindu Munnani and T N Brahmins association filed a complaint against him for threatening to cut the sacred thread (Janeu) of Brahmins and hurting the sentiments of the community.

'Tada' Rahim is a terrorist who served 18 years in prison for plotting the Coimbatore serial bomb blasts (1998) which killed 58 people and affected thousands. He has founded INL and is known for rabid remarks. INL is an offshoot of the Indian Union Muslim League that has called for a "janeu cutting" protest in front of the Sankara Mutt at Kancheepuram.

Tada Abdul Rahim said, "Let us cut janeu worn by Godse's descendants." He posted a long message on his FB page on February 20, calling people to join in a protest in which the janeu would be cut from Brahmins. He said, "It is a self-defence protest by the disciples of Palani Baba (Ahmed Ali, a terrorist) to protect our Islamic community. It is not against anyone."

Despite claiming to follow the "women's rights activist" Periyar, Dravidians have been supporting wearing hijab inside educational institutions and blaming Brahmins for the issue. Many "Dravidian stock" accounts shared cartoons depicting a Brahmin pulling the hijab of a Muslim woman, and one even equated it with Draupadi being disrobed by Dushasana in the epic Mahabharata.

Savukku Shankar, in an interview to a YouTube channel, has mooted the idea of cutting janeu of Brahmins while speaking on the hijab issue. DMK's ally Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi's deputy general secretary, Vanniarasu, tweeted, "There will be a time when VCK rules TN. At that time wearing janeu will be banned. It is the first and foremost job in destroying Sanatana."

Besides Brahmins, Kshatriya Kula Vaniyars, Valluvars, Kammalars, Nadars, Chettiars, Rajus, etc., wear janeu as well and even conduct of janeu changing ceremony on Avani Avittam.

A delegation of the TN Brahmins Association, led by its president Pammal Ramakrishnan, lodged a complaint at the city police commissioner's office on February 23 for dragging the community into the issue and trying to create communal tensions in the state. They have urged the police to arrest Tada Rahim and Vanniarasu for their comments. Hindu Munnani also lodged a complaint against Rahim for his comments on Brahmins.

Tamil Nadu Brahaman Samaj, led by Harihara Muthu Iyer, condemned the decision of INL and sought police protection to Sankara Mutt and people who wear janeu. Meanwhile Tamil Nadu Muslim League chief Mustafa made an appeal to INL to drop their agitation.

TN Cybercrime wing has arrested Tada Rahim. He has been booked under sections 153, 505 (1)of IPC. He was sent to remand till March 10.