Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker Appavu had previously expressed support for Christianity and made derogatory remarks about the Hindu religion. He had said “Sanathanam implies that only 4 per cent of the population is entitled to education, while the rest are destined to be subservient. This constitutes its underlying doctrine. If it hadn’t been for Lord Macaulay’s arrival in 1835 and the subsequent passage of the Education Act, we would not have had access to education. Institutions like Xavier College and Xavier School, where we are currently gathered, would not have had a presence if the British had not passed laws in 1795 that allowed everyone to acquire land.”
The DMK leader said “Looking back 111 years to 1912, the region comprising Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and a part of Odisha was home to languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Tulu. At that time, a staggering 94 out of every 100 graduates belonged to the same community, with 4% accounting for 94 per cent of all graduates, while the remaining 96 per cent held only a 6 per cent share of the degrees. This reflects the prevailing education system and social conditions of that era.”
Appavu said , “125 years ago, individuals travelling from South Tamil Nadu to Chennai for education subjected to discrimination and were not allowed to eat or stay at places like Mysore Cafe. People from the southern districts in need of accommodation were predominantly part of the 96% Hindu population who were denied education and the right to stay in hostels. It was during this time that the South Indian Welfare Rights Association was set up, leading to the establishment of hostels by the YMCA in many places in Chennai, thereby providing much-needed accommodation for students.”
Going further, he said “Some now refer to the policies of Sir Vaikunder as “Sanatanam.” Sir Vaikunder, originally known as Mudisoodum Perumal, was a prominent figure who vehemently opposed Sanatana Dharma, the caste system, and oppression over 200 years ago. He was given the name Muthukutty by the Maharaja of Travancore, who argued that being born in Izhikulam made it inappropriate for him to carry the name Perumal. It was this Muthukutty who became Vaikundar, an important historical figure. Vaikunder advocated for equality among all individuals and discouraged idol worship, as he believed it unnecessary, suggesting that people from the privileged 4% would predominantly engage in such practices. Narayana Guru, also faced discrimination and was denied the right to walk on Somanathar Temple Street in Vaikkam.”
Tiruneveli district secretary of Hindu Munnani functionary CS Vimal has filed a complaint with Palayamkottai police demanding action against Speaker Appavu for denigrating Hindu religion in a Christian meeting.
Advocate Kutralanathan told media “On the September 10, 2023, during a speech at the Palayamkottai Xavier College grounds as part of the Balayankot District Golden Jubilee ceremony, Tamil Nadu Speaker Appavu made remarks suggesting that the denial of education to 96% of Hindus was synonymous with “Sanathanam.” He insinuated that this term implied that only 4 per cent of the population was entitled to an education while the rest were relegated to a status akin to slavery. This speech, delivered in a gathering predominantly attended by Christians, was seen by some as an attempt to disrupt law and order and sow discord and religious animosity, particularly against Hinduism.”
“In the wake of the speaker’s speech, certain Islamic organizations have also taken to social media platforms to express disparaging views about Hinduism, amplifying the divisive sentiments further. As a result, many Hindus, including myself, have been deeply hurt by the offensive remarks made by Speaker Appavu during his address to a Christian audience. It is disconcerting that such derogatory comments about Hinduism were made at a gathering of another faith community.”
Vimal has urged the authorities to initiate the necessary legal proceedings aimed at fostering peace and justice in response to Speaker Appa’s remarks, which were delivered in a manner that could potentially incite religious animosity.”
Advocate Kutralanathan told media that Appavu is trying to create communal clashes by uttering such unfounded remarks at a gathering of Christians. Appavu told there that 94 of Hindus were denied education which is white lie. He tried to create an impression among the Christians that after their invasion people get education which was denied earlier. It is not controversial but also punishable in that gathering, BJP MLA Nainar Nagerndran also attended.
It is not first time Appavu spoke controversially. This (crypto) DMK MLA never hide his love for the Abrahamic religion. While speaking at the centenary celebrations of St Paul’s seminary in Tiruchirappalli in July 2022, he said “If you are (Catholic Christians), removed, there wouldn’t be any growth in Tamil Nadu. If there were no missionaries, then Tamil Nadu would be like Bihar, I thank Catholic Christians, missionaries for their personal growth and for laying the foundational structure of the State.
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