DMK Minister EV Velu (Left), Tamil Nadu State BJP president K Annamalai (Right)
A well planned attention diversion plan, Tamil Nadu Public Works Minister EV Velu denouncing India and calling it “some place in North India”. The viral video was shared on social media by Tamil Nadu state BJP president K Annamalai on August 7, exposing the minister’s divisive remarks.
In the video, DMK Minister EV Velu can be heard saying, “What is the state today? The word India never had any impact on us. When has India had an impact on us? I’m making an open statement. There wasn’t any such impact on us. I’m talking about some time ago. Where did we have an impact? There was no impact. India is someplace in North India. We belong to Tamil Nadu. If possible, we have to create a Dravida Nadu. Our thought process was going in that direction.”
His remarks have is spurred another spate of condemnation, with many accusing him of openly supporting separatism and undermining the unity and integrity of the nation. The video shared by Annamalai, further fuelled the outrage.
In a tweet, Annamalai rapped the DMK and the minister Velu for their divisive speech. He said, “DMK Minister Thiru EV Velu expressing what they stood for. This is the true face of parties in the I.N.D.I. Alliance. Once a separatist, always a separatist.”
Critics argue that such statements from a public official holding a ministerial position go against the principles enshrined in the constitution and the oath of office taken by him before assuming office. India has a rich cultural and linguistic diversity, and the strength of the nation lies in its unity. The statement made by the DMK minister has been perceived as an attempt to sow seeds of discord and division among different regions and communities.
As the video continues to circulate on social media platforms, demands for an explanation and action against the minister are growing louder and stronger. Citizens across the country are urging the Tamil Nadu government to take immediate steps to address the issue and ensure that such divisive rhetoric is not tolerated in the political discourse.
Earlier 2G scam fame A Raja made a open call for separate state demand. in July last, Raja , while addressing a conference of the party’s local body representatives in Namakkal, said that social reformer Periyar, whom the DMK, considers as its ideological leader, advocated for Tamil Nadu to separate from India.“ “However, we have kept that demand aside so far for the sake of democracy and unity of India. I urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah not to force us to revive the demand. Please give us state autonomy. I am telling Amit Shah and the Prime Minister with utmost humility, I implore you in the presence of [our] leaders on the dais, our chief minister is journeying on the path of Anna [DMK founder CN Annadurai], do not force us on the path of Periyar. I urge the Centre to grant us autonomy. We shall not stop our fight until Tamil Nadu gets state autonomy”. Raja also said “Do not make us seek a separate country, give state autonomy and we will not rest till then”. He said that the DMNK been championing the cause of state autonomy for several decades.
AIADMK’s senior leader and state fisheries minister D Jayakumar said while speaking to the media ( in 2019) DMK’s fierce opposition to the scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution, stripping of statehood besides the special status to Jammu and Kashmir, is tantamount to supporting divisive forces, He said “while everyone is lauding the BJP government’s bold decision of scrapping article 370 in Kashmir, the DMK has taken a stance against the move. In the Kashmir issue, the DMK is speaking in a manner that is against national unity. Hence, the Union government should ban DMK.”
The BJP’s state secretary Rama Srinivasan had written to the EC, demanding a ban on the DMK. This was after the DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai’s comment that ‘Kashmir was never a part of India,” during a television debate in a national channel. “Since the DMK spokesperson had spoken against the sovereignty and unity of India, his party should be banned,” the BJP leader said in his petition.
In August last year, A ruling DMK ally, VCK echoed the separate state slogan of it’s partner. The talk for statehood has been initiated by DMK leaders, Jagat Gasper and now it allies who joined the bandwagon….
Soon after this, Pro-LTTE Christian missionary Jegath Gaspar Raj calls for Partition of India, instigated Muslims to demand a separate country. He said. “If you are 40 per cent, you ask for a 40 per cent, you ask for a 40 per cent of land as partition, there is nothing wrong. We will live peacefully with 40 per cent. Even if Muslims demand 20 per cent land, you will have land to the size of Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Telangana and Karnataka. Now, it is the turn of Vanniarasu, deputy general secretary of VCK headed by Thol. Thirumavalavan. ……
Vanniarasu shared a video of the speech with the caption “Let us make Tamil Nadu a separate nation from the Union of India”. In that he is making a clarion call for making Tamil Nadu a separate nation from the Union of India”. He was speaking in an event held in remembrance of Senkodi, the woman who self-immolated seeking the release of seven terrorists convicted of killing former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He said “On this death anniversary of Senkodi, independence… Tamil Nadu’s independence.. the rights of Tamils.. Achieving Tamil Nadu as a separate nation from Indian Union.. that will be our pledge and duty towards Senkodi”.
The speeches of Raja, Jagat Gasper, and now Vanniarasu are nothing new but are a part of a grand design that was finalized in 2020 itself. Using the word to refer Central government as a ‘Union government’, refusing to say Jai Hind in state assembly, free run for separatist, anti-national, naxals and fundamentalist forces and now the demand for a separate state with full autonomy or partition are part of the design. The plot, it is alleged, was conceived by DMK with support of more than 180 fringe outfits, left and VCK prior 2021 state assembly elections. Accordingly they are using all available platforms to to stage their pre-scripted narratives.
Senior journalist Senkottai Sriram said “Both the AIADMK and the BJP in 2019 have demanded ban on DMK, accusing its Dravidian rival of acting against the unity and integrity of the nation. According to un reliable sources, the BJP government is viewing the possibilities banning the DMK for its anti national stand. It goes against the oath they had taken and against the constitution. The EC, it is learnt, is considering action on the communication it had received four years ago.
The DMK is already facing heat from IT, ED for alleged irregularities. Separate statehood demands by A Raja, TN minister Velu, advocate Saravanan , Gaspar, VCK Vanniarasu are new. They are all part of design and well planned one. Annamalai had released DMK files 1 and 2 making serious allegations of corrupt activities of DMK, first family, its ministers. The DMK and its ministers’ open challenge to BJP and criticising its policies, making personal attack on PM and other senior leaders , it seems, crossed all permissible limits. The BJP wants to clip the wings of the DMK and its allies before the 2024 Lok Sabha poll”.
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