DMK slams AIADMK after video at Hindu group meeting ‘insults' Dravidian icons
The AIADMK in Tamil Nadu responded with a statement clarifying their stance, after the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) condemned the disrespect of Dravidian leaders CN Annadurai and EV 'Periyar' Ramaswamy in a video shown at a Hindu group-organised conference.On Sunday, a BJP and Hindu Munnani-aligned Murugan devotees' conference was held in Madurai, where a video was played which allegedly criticised the icons of Dravidian movement.advertisementSenior AIADMK leaders, including Sellur Raju and Rajendra Balaji, attended the event. Their presence drew heavy criticism, especially from the DMK, which accused the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) of betraying its Dravidian roots.
DMK Organisational Secretary RS Bharathi slammed the AIADMK over the slight and accused the rival party of aligning with Hindutva forces and questioning its loyalty to Dravidian values.'If AIADMK is enjoying criticism of Anna, is your blood AIADMK or BJP,' he asked. 'Will you remain motionless even if your mother or wife is criticised?'Asking whether the AIADMK replace the 'Anna' in their name with 'Amit Shah', Bharathi said: 'After Murugan Conference, RSS Centenary celebrations, will (Edappadi K) Palanisamy take refuge in Nagpur? AIADMK has dissolved in Hindutva.'The AIADMK distanced itself from the video and issued a statement condemning any disrespect toward Periyar and Anna. It claimed its leaders were unaware of the content being shown at the time.advertisementThe party asserted that Dravidian ideology was 'mixed in its partymen's blood' and clarified that although its leaders participated in the conference, they did not endorse the resolutions or the pledges taken there.'The visuals of Thanthai Periyar and Anna shown in the conference is not acceptable and we express deep condemnation against it,' AIADMK said in a statement, adding that they didn't know such a video was being shown to the public, until it was revealed in the media.- Ends
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
31 minutes ago
- India Today
Poll panel rejects Rahul Gandhi's rigging allegation, invites him for discussion
The Election Commission of India (EC) invited Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for an in-person meeting to discuss his allegations that last year's Maharashtra Assembly polls were a letter emailed to Gandhi on June 12, the EC responded to an article Gandhi published in a leading daily, in which he accused the poll panel of failing to ensure free and fair elections in Maharashtra. The election watchdog dismissed the allegations, asserting that the electoral process was conducted strictly in accordance with laws passed by election process is carried out in a decentralised manner at the assembly constituency level," the EC wrote. "The entire poll exercise involves thousands of personnel, including booth-level agents appointed by political parties." Gandhi has repeatedly alleged that the Maharashtra polls, won by the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, were marred by irregularities and rigging. He slammed the EC's decision to reduce the retention period of election-related video footage and photographs to 45 days, claiming that it could facilitate the destruction of its letter, the EC told Gandhi, "We presume that any issue regarding conduct of elections would have already been raised through election petitions filed in the competent court of law (high court) by Congress candidates."It added, "However, if you still have any issues, you are welcome to write to us and the Commission is also willing to meet you in person at a mutually convenient date and time to discuss all issues."advertisementGandhi had also sought more transparency from the EC, asking it to publish consolidated, digital voter rolls for the 2024 Lok Sabha and all state assembly elections, including Maharashtra, and to release CCTV footage from polling booths recorded after 5 p.m. on election to these demands, the EC issued a detailed rebuttal, citing voter privacy and security concerns. It said sharing raw video footage would compromise voters' rights and expose them to possible 'pressure, discrimination and intimidation by anti-social elements.'The poll panel reiterated that the electoral framework has built-in mechanisms for redressal and that concerns should be pursued through legal channels.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Maa Janaki Mandir in Sitamarhi, believed to be Sita's birthplace, gets final nod; Ayodhya Ram Mandir architects to design it
CM shares design, calls project a matter of pride — NitishKumar (@NitishKumar) Architects of Ayodhya Ram Mandir to design Sitamarhi temple Pilgrimage site draws visitors from across borders Live Events State backs temple with Rs 120 crore allocation (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday released the final design of the Jagat Janani Maa Janaki Mandir at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi , considered by many to be the birthplace of Sita, wife of Lord Ram. The foundation stone was laid on December 13, 2023. Along with the design, the Chief Minister announced the formation of a trust to ensure fast execution of the project.'The design of the temple and other structures… is ready. Building the magnificent temple of Maa Janaki is a matter of pride and fortune,' Kumar posted on social media, while sharing digital renderings of the upcoming temple complex.A private firm based in Noida has been appointed as the design consultant for the project. The same firm was responsible for the master planning and design of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. This link is expected to lend architectural and religious significance to the Sitamarhi Dham sees hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year. Devotees from Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh regularly visit the site. It is widely believed to be the exact location where Sita was born, making it a significant religious destination in Hindu Bihar cabinet has already approved a budget of ₹120 crore for the overall development of the temple complex and its surroundings. The funds are expected to be used for construction, visitor facilities, and religious infrastructure at the site.
Scroll.in
an hour ago
- Scroll.in
SC stays arrest of complainant in Sharmishta Panoli case in FIRs outside West Bengal
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the arrest of Wajahat Khan Qadri, the man whose complaint led to the arrest of 22-year-old law student Sharmishta Panoli, in all first information reports registered against him outside West Bengal, Live Law reported. Panoli, a fourth-year business and law student at a Pune university, was arrested by the Kolkata Police in Gurugram on May 30 for her remarks about Prophet Muhammad on social media. She deleted the post later and issued an apology on X. Following Panoli's arrest, at least five complaints were filed against Qadri in West Bengal, including two at the Garden Reach Police Station, for alleged hate speech and derogatory remarks on social media that hurt religious sentiments. Complaints had also been filed against Qadri in several parts of the country, including Mumbai, Delhi and Assam. On June 9, the Kolkata Police arrested Qadri for posting allegedly 'malicious and inflammatory' remarks on social media. On Monday, the Supreme Court stayed further arrest of Qadri, noting he is already in police custody in one case from West Bengal and in judicial custody in another, The Indian Express reported. The bench of Justices KV Viswanathan and N Kotiswar Singh also issued notice on Qadri's writ petition, which sought the consolidation of first information reports registered against him in Assam, Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana. Qadri had allegedly demanded action against Panoli on social media and later celebrated her arrest. While not endorsing Qadri's remarks, his counsel said he was 'reaping as he has sown'. He said that Qadri had already apologised and deleted the social media posts. However, the court said that the petitioner's comments do not fall under the ambit of freedom of speech. It remarked that 'hate speeches will not take us anywhere', Live Law reported. The first complaint against Qadri was filed by a Hindutva outfit, Shri Ram Swabhiman Parishad, on June 2. The outfit alleged that his posts promoted enmity between religious groups and demanded his arrest for hurting 'Hindu sentiments'.
