Latest news with #anti-Tamil
NDTV
13 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Remember Gangaikondachola...": Kanimozhi's Tamil Nadu Poll Warning To BJP
New Delhi: Parliament's debate Tuesday on the Pahalgam terror attack segued briefly into a face-off over the legacy of the Chola empire - which ruled vast parts of the country from Tamil Nadu - after DMK MP K Kanimozhi criticised the BJP for only remembering the southern state before an election. "It is only before every election that the central government discovers Tamil culture..." she began, "But the Cholas conquered the Ganges... the Tamilians will always win," Ms Kanimozhi thundered. "Remember Gangaikondacholan (i.e., a reference to Chola emperor Rajendra I, who annexed territory up to the holy river and built a new capital called Gangaikondacholapuram) ..." She was responding to a growing row over Prime Minister Narendra Modi commemorating a maritime expedition by Chola emperor Rajendra I to southeast Asia. The visit has been seen as another attempt by the BJP to connect with Tamil voters and win over a state that has historically rejected the party. The Chola empire - which ruled vast parts of India and also exerted influence over parts of present-day Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia - became a point of contention after the visit, with the BJP, DMK, and Tamil actor-politician Vijay's TVK all attacking each other. Vijay, whose TVK is seen as a dark horse for next year's election and who has made no secret of his disdain for the DMK and the BJP, launched a scathing critique of the latter for "lecturing Tamil Nadu on its own history" and accused the latter of allowing the Prime Minister's visit. "Had the DMK given the Cholas the honour they deserve... this anti-Tamil central government wouldn't have stepped in to take credit. Instead, the DMK welcomed PM Modi's visit as a matter of 'honour' - this is not pride... it is surrender," Vijay said in a strongly-worded statement. The BJP's Karu Nagarajan responded by accusing Vijay of spreading lies. "Has any other Prime Minister embraced and showcased Tamil culture to the world like Narendra Modi? PM Modi has acted as an ambassador of Tamil pride," he said. And the BJP's former state unit chief, K Annamalai, told NDTV Mr Modi only wanted to make the Chola Empire a part of "global" history. He too accused Chief Minister MK Stalin's DMK of being "nervous" about the visit because they had not done honoured the Chola dynasty. READ | "PM Wants To Make Cholas Global, DMK Keeping Them Local" Many have drawn parallels between the PM's Ariyalur visit this month and the many he made to Tamil Nadu in the first four months of last year, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Mr Modi made nearly a dozen visits then as he tried to drum up support for his party. Those efforts didn't deliver for the BJP; the party and its allies were routed. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance contested all 39 Lok Sabha seats on offer but won zero.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
PM Modi's Cholapuram visit will rekindle Tamil ethos of unity
It is profoundly disheartening to witness the growing parochialism today in Tamil Nadu, which championed global unity with the timeless adage 'Yadhum Oore Yavarum Kelir' millennia ago. The transformation of a once-welcoming Tamil Nadu into one that denounces newcomers as 'northerners', or 'outsiders', considering them often as inferior beings is a sad outcome of self-serving has become a political strategy, purely meant for electoral advantage, to portray those speaking for nationalism, unity and inclusion of other languages in education as being anti-Tamil. Certain groups deliberately ignite discord by encouraging the notion that 'national unity is not for Tamil Nadu' and 'supporting other languages with an open mind is detrimental to Tamil'. It has become imperative at this juncture to revive the ancient Tamil ethos of national unity and camaraderie that resonated a millennia ago; the ethos that embodies unity in diversity and rejects imaginary divisions like 'north' vs 'south' or 'my state' vs 'other states'; the ethos that declares with an open mind, 'I will praise my language, and simultaneously, respect other languages'. There is no one better placed than Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the retelling of this ethos. His visit to Gangaikonda Cholapuram on Sunday, as part of the festival to commemorate 1,000 years of Rajendra Chola's maritime expedition to South East Asia and the commencement of the construction of the eponymous temple there, will rekindle that sublime, ancient Tamil character of unity and camaraderie.
Cision Canada
6 days ago
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Statement by Prime Minister Carney to mark 42 years since Black July Français
OTTAWA, ON, July 23, 2025 /CNW/ - "Forty-two years ago, an anti-Tamil pogrom erupted in Sri Lanka, leaving thousands dead, families shattered, and countless others forced to flee. Black July remains a tragic chapter in Sri Lanka's history. Driven by the advocacy of Tamil-Canadians, Canada implemented a Special Measures program in 1983 to welcome more than 1,800 Tamils fleeing persecution, and in 2022, the Parliament of Canada unanimously declared May 18 Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day – an enduring commitment to truth, justice, and accountability. Canada stands with Tamil-Canadians in remembering the victims and survivors of these atrocities. On this solemn day, we honour the lives lost and affirm our work to build a world with meaningful justice and accountability." This document is also available at
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
T.N. people will teach BJP-led Centre a lesson over Keeladi, says Thennarasu
Contending that the Union government seeking the opinion of a retired archaeologist over the Keeladi excavation had 'exposed its true intent', Tamil Nadu Minister Thangam Thennarasu urged the Centre to revise its position failing which the people of the State were prepared to teach a lesson in the upcoming Assembly election. In a social media post, Mr. Thennarasu (also holding the archaeology portfolio) charged that the retired archaeologist from whom the Union government had sought opinion had in fact made contentions that were 'far from truth' over the third round of excavations. Insisting the Union government to change its stance over the issue, the Minister further cautioned: 'If not, the people of Tamil Nadu are waiting to teach appropriate lesson through the upcoming Assembly election.' Mr. Thennarasu also condemned the ruling BJP at the centre for its alleged 'unjustified anti-Tamil stand'. In Keeladi issue, the Chief Minister had exposed the Union government's actions attempting to diminish the antiquity of Tamils, the Minister said.
Hans India
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Threat of burning down cinemas can't prevent release of film: SC on 'Thug Life' row
The Supreme Court on Tuesday made scathing remarks against Karnataka's "extra-judicial ban" on the screening of 'Thug Life' -- a film by veteran filmmaker Mani Ratnam and superstar Kamal Haasan. 'Rule of law demands that any film which has a CBFC certificate must be released, and the state government has to ensure its screening. It can't be that, at the threat of burning down the cinemas, the film can't be released. We are not passing an order that people come and watch the film. But the film must be released,' remarked a Bench headed by Justice Ujjal Bhuyan. The apex court was dealing with a writ petition filed by Bengaluru's M. Mahesh Reddy, alleging that despite certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the Karnataka government has prevented Thug Life's theatrical release through oral instructions and police interference. 'We cannot allow mobs and vigilante groups to take over the streets. The rule of law must prevail,' the Bench, also comprising Justice Manmohan, told the Karnataka government's counsel. 'See, the issue concerns the rule of law. It concerns a fundamental right. The Supreme Court is meant to be a custodian of the rule of law as well as a fundamental right. It is not just a video or a film, but much bigger than that,' added the Justice Bhuyan-led Bench. It asked the Karnataka government to file its counter-affidavit by Wednesday, and posted the matter for further hearing on Thursday (June 19). When the counsel representing the Karnataka government stated that following the row over Haasan's remarks on the origins of the Kannada language, the film's producer had petitioned the Karnataka High Court seeking protection, the apex court directed the transfer of the pending petition to itself. Further, it expressed disapproval over the Karnataka High Court's suggestion to Kamal Haasan to issue an apology. During the film's audio launch, Kamal Haasan claimed that 'Kannada is born out of Tamil', sparking strong reactions in Karnataka. After the actor's refusal to issue an outright apology, the film's release in Karnataka has been postponed indefinitely. Last week, the Supreme Court had sought responses from Karnataka's Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Home) and Director General of Police in the matter and posted the petition for further hearing on June 17. Advocate A. Velan, representing the petitioner, contended that Karnataka's "extra-judicial ban" amounted to an unconstitutional restriction on free speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. The Karnataka government has completely "capitulated" to extremist elements, who were attacking linguistic minorities and calling for the burning of theatres, submitted Velan. As per the petition, the ban stems from a deliberate campaign of terror, including explicit threats of arson against cinema halls, incitement to large-scale communal violence targeting linguistic minorities, and a chilling call for a repeat of past anti-Tamil riots. 'This reign of intimidation is a direct, flagrant violation of the Fundamental Rights to Freedom of Speech and Expression (Article 19(1)(a)) and to Practice any Profession (Article 19(1)(g)). More seriously, it is a calculated attack on the secular fabric and public order of the state,' stated the petition.
