Latest news with #TrichySiva
India Today
9 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
DMK protests Keeladi report release delay, warns Centre of Parliament disruption
Escalating its demand for the immediate release and recognition of the Keeladi excavation report, the DMK Students Wing held a protest in Madurai on Thursday, warning the Union Government of disrupting Parliament proceedings if the findings are not to DMK, the Keeladi excavation, carried out over a decade, unearthed 17,914 artefacts believed to offer critical insights into ancient Tamil civilisation. These findings were carbon-dated in various institutions across India and the United States. However, the report on the excavation has not yet been officially accepted or released by the Union the protest in Madurai, the district where the Keeladi site is located, leaders alleged that the delay was ideologically motivated. DMK MP Trichy Siva said, 'Keeladi civilization predates the Harappan civilisation by 600 years. But while the Centre allocated Rs 2,000 crore for the Indus Valley Civilisation, which they are attempting to rename Saraswati civilisation project, which has little evidence, it continues to ignore Keezhadi.'Siva also criticised attempts to rename the Indus Valley civilisation as the Saraswati civilisation, which is linked to a river mentioned only in religious texts and not backed by scientific evidence. 'When the North presents belief-based evidence, it is accepted. But when Tamils show scientific evidence, it is dismissed. This is a cultural and ideological war,' he also alleged political interference in the excavation process. Archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna, who led the Keeladi dig for three years and submitted a detailed report, was abruptly transferred to Delhi. His replacement, Sriram, reportedly conducted minimal work before declaring no substantial findings, Siva the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department continued the excavation, eventually uncovering brick structures, wells, ornaments, children's clay toys, and evidence suggesting that the ancient Tamil civilisation harnessed iron without passing through the Bronze Age, he added.'This time when Parliament begins, Keeladi will be our first issue. Until the Union Government recognises the report, we will not allow Parliament to function,' Siva comes after Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, during a visit to Chennai earlier, said that more scientific proof was required to validate the comment drew sharp criticism from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who accused the BJP-led Centre of deliberately stalling the report. 'We fought for centuries to unearth our history. They fight every day to erase it. The world is watching. So is time,' Stalin said. IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
Hans India
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
DMK Rallies Against Keeladi Report Delay, Threatens Parliament Disruption
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) intensified its demand for the release of the Keeladi excavation report, with its Students Wing organizing a protest in Madurai. The demonstrators called on the Union Government to publish the findings, warning that Parliament proceedings would be disrupted if their demand was ignored. DMK leaders allege that the delay in releasing the report is ideologically motivated and part of a broader effort to suppress Tamil heritage. According to the DMK, the Keeladi excavation, which spanned over a decade, uncovered nearly 18,000 artefacts believed to provide crucial insights into ancient Tamil civilization. These artefacts were carbon-dated at institutions in India and the United States. Despite this, the Union Government has yet to officially accept or release the report. At the protest, DMK MP Trichy Siva argued that the Keeladi civilization predates the Harappan civilization by 600 years. He criticized the Centre for allocating significant funds to the Indus Valley (Saraswati) project, which he claims lacks scientific evidence, while neglecting the scientifically supported Keeladi findings. Siva also condemned the transfer of archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna, who led the excavation, and accused his successor of downplaying the discoveries. Chief Minister MK Stalin accused the BJP-led Centre of deliberately stalling the report to erase Tamil history. He asserted that the Tamil community has long struggled to establish its historical significance through scientific means, only to face continued resistance from the Centre. Stalin called for a change in mindset rather than a revision of reports. The Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department continued the excavation after the Centre's withdrawal, unearthing evidence of advanced urban planning, iron usage without a Bronze Age, and various artefacts such as brick structures, wells, ornaments, and children's toys. The DMK has vowed to make the Keeladi report a central issue in the upcoming Parliament session, threatening to halt proceedings until the Union Government recognizes the findings. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat recently stated that more scientific proof was needed to validate the Keeladi findings, a comment that drew sharp criticism from DMK leaders
