Chennai: With just a couple of days to go for general elections in Tamilnadu, the atmosphere is electrifying in this part of the country. The two major alliances – the AIADMK and DMK – are going all guns blazing to catch the eyeballs of voters.
It is an interesting battle for these parties, for they are facing the polls without their major leaders – J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi – for the first time.
Divided communally and ideologically, the battle would be intense and not as easy as it looks on paper, say political analysts. Adding twist to the tale are the recent remarks by Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani.
Speaking at an event organised by Dravidar Kazhagam recently, Veeramani spoke on the topic ‘Pollachi Scandal – Irresponsible Brahmin Behaviour’. He said Lord Krishna should be the first person who should be booked for the criminal act of eve-teasing. He added, “From stealing butter at small age, to stealing women’s clothes at adolescence and further asking them to come out, Krishna was the instigator of eve-teasing.”
The issue snowballed into a major crisis. Stones were pelted on the stage at a meeting of Dravidar Kazhagam to seek votes for the DMK combine in Tiruchi recently.
Disgruntled Hindu organisations across Tamilnadu have expressed their ire against Veeramani’s anti-Hindu remarks.
Speaking to News Today, an office-bearer of Thamizhnaadu Brahmin Association, says, “Veeramani is well-known for making derogatory remarks on Hindu culture, practices and Gods. Unfortunately, instead of condemning his remarks, DMK president M K Stalin chose to defend him. It is ridiculous on his part to say that Veeramani did not speak with the intention to humiliate or insult. Stalin accusing a few media outlets and organisations like the RSS of having portrayed it in a wrong way is uncalled-for.”
Echoing him, Kannan, a senior citizen, said, “First of all, the DMK combine cannot call itself a secular alliance when it has parties like the Muslim League and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi in its fold. And in the name of minority appeasement, they are ridiculing the faith of Hindus.”
Reports say that many organisation across the State have convened meetings and spoken in detail on consolidating Hindu votes.
“We held street corner meetings in Hosur, Tiruchi, Dharmapuri, Chennai and Madurai. It was unanimously decided not to cast our votes to the alliance that offends our beliefs and traditions. It is not today or yesterday, but for decades we have been the soft targets of DMK. Enough is enough. We want to show everyone that we too have a vote bank,” said a leader of a Hindu outfit.
“Today, secularism is being taught to youngsters as being anti-Hindu. So much venom is spread on social media. Only when we show our resistance, will it stop,” he adds.