Tamil Nadu police suo moto has arrested a Hindu Munnani Karur district co-ordinator, M. Sakthivel (32). His crime was distributing pamphlets appealing to Hindus to buy products only from shops run by the Hindu community ahead of Diwali festival. He also posted his appeal on social media platforms.
Vengamedu police have, it is alleged, proved their loyalty to their masters, i.e. the powerful Muslim lobby. A case was registered against him under Sections 153A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Sakthivel has tried to replicate the Karnataka model to polarise ‘trade’ on religious lines in Karur district in Tamil Nadu.
Police arrested him on October 12 after registering a case against Sakthivel without receiving any complaint in this connection, on charges of promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony (Section 153 A IPC) and making statements conducing to public mischief (Section 505 IPC).
Condemning his Sakthivel’s arrest, 27 Hindu Munnani members including its state vice president Shanmugasundaram held a protest in Karur on 13th. Police arrested more than 100 people and released them later in the day. They raised slogans like buy only from Hindu run shops for Diwali as it would help them who were heavily affected during COVID-19 pandemic as a result of lockdown. Muslims have been supported financially by foreign sources and jamaat. Hindu Munnani state president Kadeswara Subramanim told your correspondent that arresting our functionary for distributing leaflets to do merchandise with Hindu community traders is highly condemnable. He said, “the DMK government has been taking anti-Hindu measures from the day of coming to power. Police foist cases under harsh sections against Hindu outfit leaders, if they give their voice for Hindus. They do not show the same zeal against DMK, DK, VCK leaders who day and day out make disparaging comments on Hindu gods and anti-Hindu speeches, and for their instigating comments which would trigger communal clashes despite giving complaints. The police have now become stooges and orderlies of the Dravidian model politicians. If this anti–Hindu measures continues, days are not fair, people throw out the DMK government from power”.
“In the Karur case, police took action on their own without receiving any complaint from anyone, which question their intention and biased nature. Sakthivel appealed people only to buy Indian made goods. It is not a crime. During British era, Swaraj movement was launched by our leaders with a call to boycott foreign goods. Indira Gandhi came out with a ‘Be Indian, buy Indian” slogan to promote domestic goods. Was it against foreign nations? Even today, our Central government is giving importance to Swadeshi market and Make India schemes. The government is telling buy only Indian crackers and not the Chinese made highly polluting ones. Was it against China? We are appealing to people to buy only from Hindus run shops only to make good their losses during corona pandemic lock out days. We never say do not buy from other community traders” said a Hindu Munnani leader.
“All Hindu festivals are attaching importance to new ones, hygienic, holy and sacred goods. Their festivals are prayer based. Even human saliva, breath affected goods would not be considered holy and pure. In temples, the priest would cover his nose and mouth during food offering (Nivediyam) to avoid their breath, saliva droplets should not fall on the foods. Most of the Muslim goods are halal based, with human spit, which has been accepted as part of their religious practice. How can a Hindu buy such products and offer to his Gods as holy ones?” these are the questions raised by many.
They said “the DMK government, but arresting Sakhivel, force Hindus to halal based items? Is it promoting their goods in the name of secularism and religious harmony? Most of the Hindus have started asking these questions now-a-days after pondering it over for a longer period. The idea behind asking people to buy from the Hindu traders is to help them to overcome their financial woes during the two-year lock-down period. It is a symbolic help. During Diwali festival Hindus buy among 69 goods which included edible, provisions, eatables, sweets, savouries, dry fruits including dates, vegetables, garments, gold jewellery and silver items. These are to be offered to Gods before our consumption. It is not a crime to ask people to help their community traders. Why police acted on their own without any complaint? It will set bad precedent.
Police do not take any action against Dayana Grace Nadar for his social media message “do not sell quality and low-priced products to non-Christian Nadars and Brahmin community. Carry out business with Christian Nadars only. If we do this, Hindus will convert to Christianity. This will happen before coming Christmas”. Like there have been social media and print media advertisements says Flats, houses, plots, business enterprises available for sale, rent, mortgage. Muslims only respond. Are they acceptable to police and not invite sections slapped against Sakthivel? Won’t they create communal clashes? This is a clear case of police acting with bias to satisfy some and show their indebtedness to them. State health authorities do not take action against halal certified goods with spitting of saliva. Hindus have no other option except to buy from their own people which they believe are pure, holy, sanctified qualified to be offered to Gods”.
