The Dravidian political parties in Tamil Nadu also seem to be airing similar views as those expressed by the Congress and the National Conference, as the former are also airing pro-Pakistan sentiments. The Dravidian political leaders are in the dock as they expressed views that seem sympathetic towards Pakistan. This has raised suspicions of a possible coordinated effort as part of a larger agenda.
The remarks made by certain leaders from the Congress and NC, openly criticising the Modi government and advocating for preferential treatment for Muslims in national wealth, have found resonance in Tamil Nadu. This has sparked concerns among the public and political observers.
One such incident occurred on March 5 when Farooq Abdullah, a prominent leader of the National Conference, responded to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement about merging Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with India. Abdullah stated that Pakistan is not defenceless and possesses nuclear weapons that could be unleashed on India.
Adding fuel to the fire, former Pakistani minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain shared a video of Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Indian National Congress, with an accompanying caption that seemed to endorse Gandhi’s views.
Addressing a rally at Anand in Gujarat, Prime Minister Modi repeated his ‘shehzada’ (prince) jibe against Rahul Gandhi and said in Hindi, “Look at the coincidence. At a time when the Congress is weakening in India and it is difficult to spot it even with a microscope… the Congress is dying here and Pakistan is crying. You must have heard Pakistani leaders are praying for the Congress and Pakistan is eager to make the ‘shehzada’ the Prime Minister.”
Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar , known for his pro-China Chinese stance, said in an interview two days ago ” “India should give respect to Pakistan as it has an atom bomb! If we don’t give them respect, they’ll think of using an atom bomb against India. You should talk to them. But instead, we are flexing our military might. And this is just increasing the tensions. And they have atom bombs. What happens if a ‘madman’ decided to launch bombs (at India).”
https:/twitter.com/Pawankhera/status/1788819726895866284
similar voices in social media platforms can be observed within Tamil Nadu, exploiting a Sri Lankan YouTuber’s recent post to advance their own agendas. This phenomenon coincides with a growing interest among Tamil-speaking travel vloggers from Sri Lanka in exploring Pakistan as their favourite destination.
Over the past year, six Sri Lankan Tamil vloggers, namely RJ Chandru, Thinush Vlogs, Jesi Vlogs, Kajan Vlogs, and Thavakaran, have embarked on journeys to Pakistan, documenting their experiences through captivating videos on their respective YouTube channels. Notably, Thinush Vlogs and Jesi Vlogs have even made multiple trips to the country, showcasing its diverse attractions.
While these travel vloggers have aimed to promote cultural exchange and foster tourism between the two nations, their content has inadvertently stirred controversy. Exploiting one such post, certain social media users in Tamil Nadu have manipulated the narrative to suit their own biases, amplifying divisions and biases.
Tamil Nadu’s social media landscape has recently witnessed the emergence of a concerning phenomenon, with certain voices exploiting the posts of a Sri Lankan YouTuber to further their own agenda. Notably, Pakistan has surged in popularity as a preferred destination among prominent Tamil-speaking travel vloggers from Sri Lanka.
Over the past year, six Sri Lankan Tamil vloggers, namely RJ Chandru, Thinush Vlogs, Jesi Vlogs, Kajan Vlogs, and Thavakaran, have embarked on trips to Pakistan, documenting their experiences through captivating videos on their respective YouTube channels. It is worth noting that Thinush Vlogs and Jesi Vlogs have even undertaken multiple visits to the country.
The rise of Pakistan as a sought-after travel destination for these vloggers has sparked significant interest among social media users in Tamil Nadu. Exploiting this trend, certain individuals are utilising the Sri Lankan YouTuber’s posts to manipulate public opinion in their favour. In light of these developments, it is crucial for individuals to approach social media content with a discerning eye, verify information, and maintain an unbiased perspective. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, responsible engagement and cautious sharing are imperative to prevent manipulation and ensure the dissemination of accurate information.
Dravidian Elements: North-South Divide Campaign in Social Media Based on Chandramohan’s Interview
The interview of Chandramohan praising Pakistan and Pakistani people went viral in social media. Dravidian elements widely shared Chandramohan’s interview praising Pakistan and kicked off their North-South divide campaign by posting social media post saying Pakistan have no hatred feeling towards Tamils, unlike some North Indians, divide and rule policy of the RSS-BJP is creating unnecessary hatred for Pakistan and its people. This video is example which shows the humanitarian side of Pakistani people.”This Dravidian element named Stalin Kumari posted in X saying “it People are always living peacefully without enmity. It is only the Saffron Sanghi’s who are creating unnecessary hatred among the people”.
DMK supporter Karthik I.N.D.I.Alliance posted saying, “People are always living normally but it is the separatist (Hindu organisations) who are creating hatred for bread and butter. Remember, Pakistan girl received heart transplant in Chennai”.
DMK spokesperson Salma posted in X saying, “we a group of panchayat leaders, visited Pakistan and visited several cities there. When they came to know that we are Indians, they did not take money for things we bought and for food. They welcomed us by showering us with flowers. It is because of politicians we brothers got separated”.
இது உண்மைதான் . நாங்கள் பஞ்சாயத்து தலைவர்கள் ஒரு குழுவாக அங்கு சென்றிருந்த போது பல நகரங்கள் போனோம். இந்தியர்களா என்று கேட்டு,வாங்கிய பொருட்களுக்கும் உணவுக்கும் பணம் வாங்கமாட்டார்கள். எங்கள் மீது பூத்தூவி மாலை அணிவித்து வரவேற்பார்கள். சகோதர்ர்களான நாம் அரசியல்வாதிகளால் பிரிந்தோம் https://t.co/mhRNwB0I8w
— Salma (@salma_poet) May 7, 2024
எந்த நாடாக இருந்தாலும் மக்கள்,மக்களாகவே வாழ்கிறார்கள்…அதில் பிரிவினைவாதம் இல்லை..
ஆனால் அரசியல் பிழைப்பு நடத்தும் காவி,பச்சை ,வெள்ளை என நிற சங்கிகளின் அரசியலுக்காகதான் இந்த பிரிவினைவாதம் வளர்க்கப்படுகிறது pic.twitter.com/agdG8PxKJD— தென்குமரி தென்றல் (@Stalinkumari) May 7, 2024
Counter to Dravidian Elements Propaganda
People launched a strong counterattack against the Dravidian elements supporting Pakistan. X user Ramesh Kumar posted, “Dravidian mock own countrymen as Vadakkan, Panipuriwala, Nepali, etc but go to Pakistan to extend friendship with them”. Another X user Dr S.R.B posted, “For Dravidians, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat people are enemies, but Pakistani’s are blood brothers.”
"Civilisation hasn't reached Tamil Nadu yet"
– Pak journalist Gohar Butt
Most Pakistanis believe civilisation means 'tall, fair, handsome' Muslim Punjabis & Pathans. And some Tamils believe they must support Pakistan coz north Indians are bad.pic.twitter.com/o4ViYxlB97
— Pakistan Untold (@pakistan_untold) October 24, 2023
Tamil speaking Sri Lankan You Tubers who are visiting Pakistan only show the so-called positive aspects of the country in their vlogs. They never show or speak about dark side of the country, such as brutal oppression of minorities, demolishing minority places of worship, forceful conversion, etc by radical Islamic elements in Pakistan. Vlogger Chandramohan only showed the positive aspects and praised Pakistan as best country for hospitality.
Exploiting Chandramohan’s interview to further their political ambitions, Dravidian elements are trying to create a narrative that Pakistani’s are friendlier to Tamil people unlike North Indians, who hate Tamil’s. Another narrative is that it is RSS-BJP that is creating hatred for Pakistani people among Indians. This is not the first time, Dravidian elements have shown compassion for Pakistan. They mocked and abused those who questioned priority given to Pakistani girl for heart transplant, while thousands of Indians are waiting for years for the organ transplant.
