Thirumurugan Gandhi, a self-proclaimed human rights activist and founder of the May 17 Movement, has once again ignited controversy by urging the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government to formulate an independent foreign policy that caters specifically to the interests of the Tamil people. His latest remarks have stirred a strong backlash, particularly given his history of advocating for Tamil separatism and his association with pro-LTTE ideologies.
Thirumurugan Gandhi spoke at the UN Human Rights Commission about the Thoothukudi massacre. When he landed in Bengaluru airport, he was immediately arrested by the Tamil Nadu police and charged with sedition and under the UAPA. https://t.co/Xs8jr0m3AJ
— The Caravan (@thecaravanindia) July 11, 2023
In a video circulating online, Gandhi, a Christian who often invokes the name of Mahatma Gandhi to gain support, called for Tamil Nadu to reject India’s national foreign policy, which he claims is designed to benefit a “Baniya-Brahmin gang” with little regard for Tamil interests. He demanded that the DMK government take the lead in evolving a foreign policy that prioritizes the needs and aspirations of the Tamil community, both within the state and in the broader South East Asian region.
“This is my request and from May 17. We have been urging the state government for the past 15 years to create a separate foreign policy. India’s foreign policy is crafted for the benefit of Gujarati Banias and Brahmins. There is nothing in it for Tamilians,” Gandhi said in the undated video, the origin of which remains unknown. He also expressed confidence that Velmurugan, a member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from the May 17 Movement, would raise the issue in the state assembly.
Controversial History
Gandhi has a history of making divisive and inflammatory statements, often in the context of Tamil nationalism. His organization, the May 17 Movement, is known for its vocal support of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a militant group that sought to create an independent Tamil state in Sri Lanka. Gandhi himself has faced several legal challenges, including charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for his public support of various controversial causes, including the Palestinian struggle.
In 2017, Gandhi was detained at Bangalore International Airport upon his return from Geneva, where he had attended sessions at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). He was later imprisoned in Vellore, and since then, he has had 13 additional cases filed against him, including four cases of sedition under IPC Section 124-A. Despite these charges, courts have acquitted him in several instances.
Call for Tamil-Centric Foreign Policy
In the video, Gandhi argued that Tamil Nadu has the capacity to chart its own foreign policy, particularly given the significant Tamil diaspora in countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Maldives, Mauritius, and even South Africa. He suggested that the state should have control over how the region is governed, claiming that Tamils are the “strongest community” in South East Asia.
“We are the ones with the capacity to decide policies for this region. Tamils are the strongest community in the entire South East Asian region,” he asserted. “We need a foreign policy that protects Tamil interests, and the Central Government in Delhi should follow this policy, not the one they have created.”
Gandhi also linked his call for a separate foreign policy to the Tamil community’s historic grievances over India’s handling of the Sri Lankan Civil War, particularly the 2009 military defeat of the LTTE, in which top LTTE leaders were killed. At the time, the UPA government, of which the DMK was a part, was in power, and many Tamil nationalists have since accused the Indian government of not doing enough to protect the Tamil population in Sri Lanka.
Criticism of Brahmin and Baniya Influence
Gandhi’s rhetoric in the video also took aim at the perceived dominance of Brahmins and Banias in India’s political and economic spheres. He claimed that the current foreign policy is controlled by this “Baniya-Brahmin gang” and asserted that Brahmins lack the expertise and experience to represent Tamil interests on the global stage.
“Brahmins have no authority or qualification to form our foreign policies. They lack expertise and experience. It is all for the Gujarati Banias. We should end this Brahmin-Bania dominance and politics,” he declared. “The voice of resistance should come from Tamil Nadu, and we firmly believe it will be the voice of the Dravidian model.”
Thirumurugan Gandhi’s comments have drawn sharp reactions from various political quarters. While the DMK government has not officially responded to the video, opposition parties have condemned his call for a separate foreign policy, viewing it as a direct challenge to India’s sovereignty and unity.
Criticism of Gandhi’s Demands
Critics have responded swiftly and strongly to Gandhi’s remarks, highlighting the separatist undertones of his statements. One critic condemned Gandhi’s ignorance of India’s constitutional framework and foreign policies, noting that Indian foreign policy has historically been shaped by prominent leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi, and not by a specific ethnic or caste-based group. “Most of our foreign policies were made during Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Manmohan Singh’s time. We have seen Chinese aggression, the formation of Bangladesh, and India’s involvement in global peacekeeping,” the critic pointed out, emphasizing that India’s foreign relations have significantly improved under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
The critic further argued that Gandhi’s comments reflect a lack of understanding of India’s growing role on the global stage, where countries such as the United States, Russia, France, and Germany actively engage with India for economic and political cooperation. “Modi is one of the most favored leaders globally. People like Thirumurugan Gandhi, with half-baked knowledge, should be tried under sedition laws to prevent Tamil Nadu from facing insurgencies similar to what Nagaland or Assam experienced,” the critic stated.
Public Reaction and Social Media Responses
Social media users also weighed in on the issue. Deepak Arora, a netizen, criticized Gandhi’s remarks in a tweet, calling them “misleading and divisive.” He argued that India’s defense initiatives, such as the creation of defense corridors, benefit the entire nation by bolstering security and generating jobs. “DMK’s stance on forming a separate foreign policy is unrealistic and unproductive. National security and diplomacy should remain unified for a stronger and more prosperous India. Stop playing politics with national interests,” Arora tweeted.
Separatist Sentiments and the Dravidian Legacy
Gandhi’s latest comments have also reignited discussions about the long-standing separatist sentiments in Tamil Nadu, particularly the DMK’s historical stance on regional autonomy. According to reports published ahead of the Tamil Nadu State Assembly elections, DMK-led groups, including May 17, leftist organizations, fundamentalist forces, and urban Naxals, have revived calls for greater state autonomy, with some advocating for a “United States of India” model, in which states would have extensive powers, including control over external affairs and defense. These reports have drawn sharp criticism from nationalists and political analysts who see such demands as a threat to India’s unity.
The idea of a separate “Dravida Nadu,” encompassing Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala, was first floated by Dravidian leaders like C.N. Annadurai in the 1960s. However, the 16th Amendment to the Constitution in 1963 made secessionist activities illegal, forcing the DMK to abandon its demand for a separate Dravida Nadu. Nonetheless, in recent years, some DMK leaders have hinted at reviving this agenda, especially in the context of state autonomy.
In 2021, DMK MP and former Union Minister A. Raja caused a stir by warning the Central Government not to deny Tamil Nadu greater autonomy, suggesting that failure to do so could lead to a revival of the demand for a separate Tamil state. Raja’s statements drew criticism from political opponents who accused him of promoting separatist ideas.
Concerns Over Potential Insurgency
The return of such separatist rhetoric has raised concerns among critics who fear it could destabilize Tamil Nadu. Some have pointed to the presence of external forces, including Christian preacher Jagat Gaspar Raj, who has advocated for the partition of India based on religious and ethnic identities. Raj’s comments, which echo Gandhi’s demands, have been interpreted as part of a broader strategy to weaken India’s unity.
“Thirumurugan Gandhi’s rants are part of a grand design by forces that aim to divide India. It is high time such elements were kept behind bars to prevent Tamil Nadu from becoming a hotbed of insurgency,” one critic remarked, drawing parallels to the insurgencies in Nagaland and Assam.
