DMK stages protest over Keeladi findings, slams Centre for ‘rewriting history'
Madurai: DMK MP Tiruchi N Siva on Wednesday led a protest in Madurai against the BJP-led Union government, accusing it of attempting to undermine the significance of the Keeladi archaeological findings.
He asserted that the Tamil Nadu government under chief minister M K Stalin would not allow any effort to distort history.
Addressing the protest organised by the DMK Student Wing, the Rajya Sabha MP said researchers from across India and abroad, including from Pune, Ahmedabad, and the US, were involved in the Keeladi study. "The dating of the site was based on scientific evidence, but the Centre continues to uphold the Harappan Civilisation as the oldest in India, while ignoring earlier Tamil sites like Adichanallur, discovered in 1906," he said.
Siva alleged that the Centre was investing heavily to rebrand the Indus-Sindh Civilisation as the 'Saraswati Civilisation', despite the lack of archaeological evidence for the Saraswati river. "They rely on faith; we rely on facts," he added.
He also criticised the Union government for stalling the Sethusamudram project while backing the "mythical" Ram Setu bridge. "If the BJP truly respected Tamil identity, it would celebrate Keeladi.
Instead, it transferred archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna to hinder progress. Still, the state government continues to support the excavations," he said.
Protesters demanded the immediate public release of all Keeladi excavation findings.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K Selvaperunthagai echoed the criticism, stating that Ramakrishna was transferred despite providing evidence-based findings.
"First, they denied Keeladi's significance, then delayed the excavation. Now they ask for more proof while sidelining the archaeologist. This is part of the BJP's pattern of dismissing Tamil history," he said.
AIADMK leader R B Udhayakumar, however, maintained that it was former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami who initiated the Keeladi excavations. "The Centre has only sought further corroboration. If Keeladi is truly being undermined, AIADMK will not remain silent," he said.
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