Chennai, Sept 2:
A light-hearted exchange over “Naga Dosham” and snakebite cases took place in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday, with Health Minister Arunraj asserting that the government would approach such issues only through scientific methods.
During Question Hour, DMK MLA O. Panneerselvam referred to discussions on snakebite incidents in several constituencies and said, in a lighter vein, that the affected areas appeared to have “Naga Dosham”. He asked whether the Health Minister could take steps to address the supposed dosham through prayers.
Responding to him, Minister Arunraj said the government headed by Chief Minister Vijay was committed to a scientific approach and did not believe in concepts such as dosham or black magic. He added that if the MLA personally believed in such practices, he could undertake measures in his own constituency, but the government would adopt only scientific measures at the State level.
The Minister also remarked that the State was seeing more cases of common cold, rather than any evidence of a “Naga Dosham” associated with snakebite cases.
Former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam then quipped that if the Minister wanted, he could arrange for people who could perform rituals to remove the supposed dosham. Arunraj responded that he had neither belief in nor interest in such practices.
Minister Aadhav Arjuna joined the exchange, pointing out that the DMK, which had spoken about the Periyar movement, was now discussing dosham in the Assembly. He said the government was committed to approaching issues scientifically.
Opposition Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin subsequently clarified that the MLA had actually referred to common cold. He said the Deputy Leader of the Opposition had been unwell with a cold for two days and that the MLA’s reference was intended in that context.
The exchange ended on a lighter note, highlighting the contrast between references to traditional beliefs and the government’s stated commitment to a scientific approach to public health.