CHENNAI: DMK’s Organising Secretary RS Bharati a known loose cannon or a foul mouth, has commented that north Indian migrant workers ate more in Amma Canteen, a subsidised one and a pet project of former CM Jayalalithaa. The former Rajya Sabha MP claimed that only the north Indian workers benefited from Amma Unavagam on Tamil Nadu taxpayers’ money.
Responding to accusations of AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) that the DMK government had closed Amma Unavagam, Bharati said “Amma (Jayalalithaa) herself has left (died), then what is the need for Amma Unavagam? Edappadi and his gang ate idli and dosa for one and a half crore rupees while Amma (Jayalalithaa) was in the hospital. Now they are acting like the DMK has shut down Amma Unavagam, where just about 150 people eat daily”.
He said , “The Jayalalithaa government served leftover food in Amma Unavagam. The chapati and kuruma served at night in Amma Unavagam are consumed by people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. We spend our tax money and feed him”.
” அம்மாவே போய் சேர்ந்துடுச்சி.. அப்புறம் அம்மா உணவகம் எதற்கு..? “ இங்க இருக்க பீகார், உத்திரப்பிரதேசகாரர்கள் தான் வந்து சாப்பிடுகிறார்கள்.. R.S.பாரதி சர்ச்சை பேச்சு#Chennai | #DMK | #AmmaUnavagam | #RSBharathi | #ADMK | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/2w0GOdqx8y
— Polimer News (@polimernews) September 22, 2024
Amma Unavagam scheme, launched by Jayalalithaa in 2013, provides affordable meals to the poor across state. The project, which still operates under the DMK government, offers idli for Rs 1, pongal for Rs5 (with Chutni and Sambar) Variety rice for Rs5, curd rice for Rs3, and two chapatis for Rs3 with dal, among other low-cost meals. Currently, 650 Amma Unavagam operate statewide, with 407 located in Chennai alone and there were attempts by DMK government to close it and rename it after Kalaignar Karunanidhi which faced severe opposition.
This is not the first time RS Bharathi has targeted Hindi speaking population from north India, ADMK members, especially EPS and Jayalalithaa, or even the TN Governor.
At an event commemorating the 100th anniversary celebrations of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK patriarch Karunanidhi, Bharathi said, “What is the governor doing? He just wants to create problems for the ruling government. We have seen so many governors, but this governor creates a fuss and drags us into a fight. He refuses to sign the bills we send. I addressed a gathering about what happened to him in Nagaland; they chased him away. Don’t mistake me; I am just quoting an example. The people of Nagaland eat dog meat. If someone who eats dog meat themselves has so much self-respect that they chased away this governor, then imagine how much self-respect Tamils, who consume food with salt, would have”.
In another instance, at a meeting (in an undated video), Bharathi ridiculed north Indian labourers and said, “The reason why Tamil Nadu is the best state in India is because of the DMK. The people in the other states are fools; they have no brains. These north Indians, I am saying this openly.”
In January 2023, at a public meeting, he compared the Governor to a migrant worker from Bihar. He said that he would not have left without being beaten had Jayalalitha been alive. “I had earlier stated that those who sell Soan papdi and Panipuri don`t know the pride of Tamil Nadu. I learned that many have come from Bihar and the Governor (RN Ravi) has similarly come by train”.
Former Union Minister and DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran said North Indian are fit for cleaning toilets which drew backlashes against him.
Dear @mkstalin Garu, as you call North Indians as 'brothers' and want to take action against hate. I request you to begin from home and your party.
This is Dayanidhi Maran your MP and relative. https://t.co/xrpvZ500EW pic.twitter.com/RYG63RMQam
— Arun Pudur (@arunpudur) March 4, 2023
Not only Dayanidhi, Bharati,Higher Education Minister K Ponmudi and others also made derogatory comments against north Indians by saying pani poor walas, pan chewers etc. DMK has been nurturing this north , south divide from 70s to divide people. Another MP Senthilkumar said in Parliament that North Indian states are “Gau Mutra” state. DMK’s opt repeated slogan is “North prospers; south languishes ( Vadukku Vazhirathu; Therku Theigirathu). Even CM Stalin, his ministers and MP find faults with the higher share of tax devolution to southern states.
