Tamil Nadu: DMK protests Kasthuri’s remarks

Chennai: The controversial statements made by former South Indian film actress and BJP supporter Kasthuri Shankar at a rally in Chennai on Sunday to demand the introduction of a Prevention of Atrocities Act to protect the Brahmin community, on the lines of the existing Scheduled Castes Act. and Scheduled Tribes (SCs & STs), opened a Pandora’s Box in political circles with the DMK claiming that the protest was an attempt to destroy the state government.

DMK deputy general secretary and MP A Raja in a statement on Tuesday said that there was no violence against the Brahmin community in the last four years in the state, which did not witness any caste-free clashes or communal riots with people from all over. communities living in friendship and enjoying the freedom to practice the profession of their choice.

However, the protest was organized by creating a false impression that the Brahmin community was facing threats, when the truth is that the state government under MP Stalin is treating all people equally with the objective of providing everything for everyone, he said.

The government does not believe in politics of hate but has followed the basic principles of DMK to usher in an equal society without discrimination, abhors violence and overcomes poverty, he said, adding that the demand raised by the Chennai protest was specious as all the most important. government posts, private sector jobs and overseas employment opportunities were enjoyed by the Brahmin community.

However, they sought protection through an act, which not only weakened the provisions of the SC & ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, but aimed at diluting the legal protection given under the law to people belonging to oppressed communities, he said.

Lamenting the comment made by Kasthuri, who was one of the speakers at the protest venue, that Telugu-speaking women came to Tamil Nadu 300 years ago to work as laborers in kings’ harems, the DMK MP also condemned her statement that people belonging to oppressed classes indulge in corruption when they get government jobs through reservation.

Attempts to gain political mileage through the politics of hate and tarnish the image of the Dravidian model of governance would not bear fruit as the government does not believe in the politics of hate but has only endeavored to provide everything for everyone and also to raise the slain, he said.

Raja alleged that the protest was staged to disrupt social peace in the state where people lived as brothers and sisters, launch a smear campaign against the government and create panic in the society.

Many other activists on social media took out speakers from the protests for making derogatory comments against the leaders of the Dravidian movement, and Kasthuri came under fire for her remarks, though she said she did not mean to hurt anyone’s sentiments.