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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Keeladi findings don't serve the script of ‘BJP-RSS ecosystem', says Chief Minister M.K. Stalin
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday charged that the 'BJP-RSS ecosystem' recoiled from the archaeological findings from Keeladi in Tamil Nadu not because evidence was lacking, but 'because the truth does not serve their script.' Mr. Stalin's comments were made a few days after Union Minister for Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat contended that the findings from Keeladi were not technically well-supported. In a social media post, Mr. Stalin cited a newspaper report on archaeological findings from Keeladi site, which reiterated the findings published by the State Archaeology Department in its 2019 report 'Keeladi-An Urban Settlement of Sangam Age on the Banks of River Vaigai' on the site's 6th Century connection based on carbon dating. 'Ample proof' Mr. Stalin said: 'Even when confronted with carbon-dated artefacts and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) reports from international laboratories on the Keeladi excavations, they continue to demand 'more proof'. And here is the 'Proof'.' 'Despite strong opposition from respected historians and archaeologists, the BJP continues to promote the mythical Sarasvati Civilisation. They do so without credible evidence, while dismissing the rigorously proven antiquity of Tamil culture,' Mr. Stalin contended. He added: 'We fought for centuries to unearth our history. They fight every day to erase it. The world is watching. So is time.' Minister Thangam Thennarasu (holding the archaeology portfolio) in a social media post, too cited the newspaper report about the findings from the Keeladi site, which said that the radiocarbon dating traced the site's origin to 580 BCE (as published in the 2019 report). 'For those who point to insufficient evidence, it has been the history of the Tamils to prove them scientifically with evidence.' He recalled that the DMK government, which had been demonstrating the antiquity of the Tamil land using archaeological evidence backed by science, had increased the allocation to archaeology from ₹5 crore to ₹7 crore. Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India, under the Union Ministry of Culture, directed its archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna, who unearthed an ancient civilization in Keeladi, to resubmit his report about the excavation after making necessary corrections for taking further action. However, Mr. Ramakrishna stood by his report.
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
BJP-RSS afraid of Keezhadi's archaeological truth: Stalin on Centre's remark
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday responded sharply to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat's remarks accusing the DMK of playing divisive politics over the Keezhadi excavations. Stalin criticised the BJP for continuing to question the archaeological findings, despite what he described as irrefutable scientific evidence confirming the antiquity of the findings of the a post on X, Stalin wrote: 'Even when confronted with carbon-dated artefacts and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry reports from international laboratories on the Keezhadi excavations, they continue to demand 'more proof'. And here is the 'Proof'.' He accused the BJP of dismissing scientifically established history while promoting the 'mythical' Sarasvati Civilisation without credible on the contrary, despite strong opposition from respected historians and archaeologists, the BJP continues to promote the mythical Sarasvati Civilisation. They do so without credible evidence, while dismissing the rigorously proven antiquity of Tamil culture,' Stalin said. He further alleged that the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ecosystem feared the truth of Tamil history because it did not serve their ideological narrative. 'When it comes to Keezhadi and the enduring truth of Tamil heritage, the BJP-RSS ecosystem recoils — not because evidence is lacking, but because the truth does not serve their script,' he said.'We fought for centuries to unearth our history. They fight every day to erase it,' Stalin added, concluding, 'The world is watching. So is time.'Stalin's post came in response to Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat's remarks on June 11, in which he alleged that the DMK government was refusing to cooperate with the central government on Keezhadi research. He claimed that the DMK was attempting to politicise the excavation a post on X, Shekhawat said, 'Honourable Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin, we do not hesitate to release any statement. In fact, if such research is scientifically proven, we will also be proud of it along with you. But for the acceptance of today's scientific world, we need more scientific and strong evidence.'He added, 'That is why, instead of rushing to politicise the excavation data, we have requested the Tamil Nadu government to support the central government in continuing the research until more scientific data is available. I cannot understand why the Tamil Nadu government is reluctant to cooperate.''Tamil Nadu is an integral part of India — its heritage should be celebrated through honest knowledge, not through divisive sentiments,' Shekhawat Minister Thangam Thennarasu also strongly criticised the Union Minister Shekhawat over the Centre's stance on the Keeladi (also known as Keezhadi) archaeological findings. On Wednesday, the DMK Minister asked whether the Centre's reluctance to recognise the archaeological findings stemmed from a desire to treat Tamils as 'second-class citizens.'He accused the Centre of repeatedly finding excuses to avoid acknowledging the Keezhadi excavations, which he said have been internationally recognised for their historical significance. 'First they said there was nothing in Keezhadi. Next they transferred the research officer. Then they said they would not allocate any funds henceforth. Finally, they put the submitted report on hold for two years. Now they come and say that the evidence is not enough. It is common for them to reject the history of the Tamils every time. The reasons they find are only different,' he had said. IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
