Politics, politicization of Governor and VC and related issues affecting the Academics and standards of education – Periyar University VC arrest, bail and thereof.
Governor vs State becoming controversial: Now, the political narrative, discussion and discourses on the post of Governor, duties of Governor, Governor as Chancellor of Universities, appointments of Vice Chancellors for the Universities and connected issues have been important news. Particularly, this has become politicized and controversialized where the opposition parties ruling the States. Thus, in West Bengal, Kerala and Tamilnadu, many such problems reported, where the fight between the CM and Governor has been routine and daily basis also. The CMs want to appropriate the power of the Governors in appointing Vice-Chancellor. There has been a lot of news appearing in the media about the corruption involved in the appointment of VCs for Universities, where, crores are reportedly asked and given for getting such an appointment. It has also been reported that every VC thus appointed would appoint 20-30 Assistant Professors in their respective Universities and get back the amount he paid from them.
VC appointment based on merit or otherwise?: After the NDA / BJP government coming to power at the Centre, it is said that such corruption has come down, as only eligible and highly qualified emeritus Professors and such other experts alone are becoming VCs with merit. Thus, persons with merit are getting the appointment of Assistant Professors. When Prohit was Governor, many controversies were raised by the political parties, but, he withstood such malicious propaganda and now, he has been Governor of Punjab. Though, AAP has been the opposition party there, not much news is appearing as that of Kerala, West Bengal and Tamilnadu. Therefore, definitely, the Citizens of India have to know what has been going on in the Universities and academic institutions, where, politics and political interference and politicization should not be there.
VC appointment in 2021: Jagannathan, who was appointed as VC of the Salem-based university by then Governor Banwarilal Purohit in June 2021, is a known agricultural expert and had served as the dean of the prestigious Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore[1]. The VC has been under the cloud for the better part of his tenure with several political parties and activists levelling allegations of corruption against him and his colleagues at the university established in 1997[2]. Police said R. Jagannathan was arrested from the University premises on 26-12-2023 Tuesday evening under sections 294(b), 120(b), 420, 468, 409 r/w 511 and 506(1) of the IPC and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, following a complaint filed by A. Elangovan, legal advisor of the Periyar University Employees Union (PUEU)[3]. “There are a few other complaints against Jagannathan,” police said[4]. When the VC was produced before the judicial magistrate-II of Salem district court, J Dhinesh Kumaran, he was granted bail for seven days, stating the case prima facie appeared to be made out under mere allegations,” an official source said[5]. Hours after he was arrested under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Periyar University vice-chancellor (VC) R Jagannathan, 63, came out on seven-day conditional bail in the early hours of Wednesday, even as the Salem city police launched searches at eight places, including his official quarters and house in connection with the case of misappropriation of funds[6]. The VC has, however, been directed to appear before the assistant police commissioner of Suramangalam to put his signature on all the seven days.
Periyar University Employees Union (PUEU) – a company or part of University?: The company has four directors, including Jagannathan, and Registrar K Thangavel, the complainant has alleged[7]. On November 6, the Periyar University administration placed a table agenda in the syndicate meeting to undertake educational programmes in collaboration with PUTER Foundation, following which the Association of University Teachers raised concerns alleging financial irregularities in the university[8]. Their specific complaint is that the company was set up using the university’s resources and infrastructure for personal gain, the police said. The state government, too, has formed a committee to look into these complaints.
Complaint given by the University Legal Advisor: The Salem city police on 26-12-2023, Tuesday arrested Periyar University Vice-Chancellor Dr R Jagannathan for allegedly misappropriating public funds and establishing a private company on the campus under his name[9]. An FIR was registered against the vice-chancellor, based on a complaint filed by I Elangovan, legal advisor of Periyar University Employee Union (PUEU), and Salem city police Commissioner B Vijayakumari, said officials[10]. Elangovan has accused the V-C and registrar Thangavel of having a “direct interest” in the private firm — PUTER Foundation, allegedly located within the Periyar University — said police, adding that there were also several other complaints of financial irregularities[11]. The matter came to light when the university administration proposed a collaboration with the PUTER Foundation, with Dr Jagannathan and Thangavel as its directors[12]. The Association of University Teachers had raised concerns about this collaboration, alleging the “company was set up using university resources”.
PMK points out many irregularities: PMK leader and former Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss had last month demanded that the state government dismiss Jagannathan from his post, after the news of the proposal to tie-up with PUTER Foundation emerged. Ramadoss had said that students who get trained from the foundation will “pay higher fees” despite the firm utilizing the resources of the university which is funded by the taxpayers’ money. Corruption in higher educational institutes in Tamil Nadu is not new as two former vice-chancellors of Anna University and Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University were in 2018 booked for serious graft charges by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). The agency also arrested the vice-chancellor of Coimbatore-based Bharathiar University, A Ganapathi, while accepting a bribe of Rs 30 lakh for regularising the job of an assistant professor, in the same year.
The condemnation of BJP: The arrest of Periyar University Vice-Chancellor Jagannathan would create fear among honest Vice-Chancellors. BJP state vice-president Kanakasabhapathy has condemned it and suggested the governor to intervene. Jagannathan, 68, was arrested and released on bail after filing a complaint about starting a business. In this regard, the state vice-president of the BJP, Kanakasabhapathy, issued a statement: “The arrest of the Vice-Chancellor of Periyar University by the police without evidence is strongly condemned. He is respected by many in the state as an honest educationist. But he is suddenly arrested without any notice. It seems that the police have tried not to follow the rules, file a case in the evening and appear in the court at night, and immediately send them to jail. And the next day the Vice Chancellor’s office and house were raided for several hours throughout the night. Hence the name of the Vice-Chancellor has been defamed in public. It is not known how the state higher education department gave permission for this. Educationists are concerned that this move by the state government will create some fear among honest vice-chancellors in Tamil Nadu. The state chief minister should take action on this. The state government should give a detailed explanation. Those involved should be held accountable for these wrongdoings that have tarnished the education sector. The investigating officer and the higher education department officials and the state government should take appropriate action immediately. The state governor who is the chancellor of the university should immediately intervene in this,” the statement said. However, this BJP support has been criticized by the other media, obviously, anti-BJP ideology.
Fastly moving incidences within four days: The Salem Police Station has been directed by the Madras High Court on 29-12-2023 to submit the case documents related to the arrest of R Jagannathan, Vice-Chancellor of Periyar University[13]. The court also adjourned a petition filed by the police that sought to quash the interim bail granted to him for today, December 29, 2023 reports The New Indian Express[14]. During the hearing of the petition before Justice P Dhanabal on Thursday, December 28, the counsel of the police moved to have the bail revoked. The counsel argued that it was granted by the judicial magistrate without giving the police an opportunity to present its case. The judge subsequently directed the police to file the case documents, including the interim bail order and scheduled a hearing for today, December 29. On December 26, the Salem city police arrested R Jagannathan, the Vice-Chancellor of Periyar University, for allegedly founding a private corporation to offer educational programmes in collaboration with the university in violation of norms and he was given bail on 27-12-2023 with hospitalization[15]. Angio was done, as he complained of chest pain and now reported stable[16].
Corruption, corrupt politics and politicked Academics: Corruption in education cannot be accepted on any account, reason or logic. The ideological interference with academics has been giving way the corruption to enter. Thus, some dominant ideologies and ideologists have infiltrated the ademic institutions through power-politics. The Socialism garb and socialist masquerade helped the Communists of all sorts to enter academics. Then, the dominant religious minorities with their “holy” alliances with the Communists made such power-politics and academic-appointment completely idelogized and politicized. Thus, many of the Central and State governmental Ministry of Education, Educational Institutions and governing bodies become manipulators of education. With the privatization of education, the commercialization has also implemented with the education business more profitable than others. Thus, becoming VC, HOD, Professor, Assistant Professor etc., have become coveted ones and the aspiring persons have been ready to go to any extent. As money-making has become the “mantra,” all have become agents in one way or the other, facilitating and taking care of interests mutually.
[1] Deccan Herald, Periyar University V-C arrested on charges of misappropriation of funds, ETB Sivapriyan DHNS Last Updated 26 December 2023, 22:41 IST.
[9] Indian Express, Periyar varsity V-C arrested for floating private firm on campus, By: Express News Service, Chennai | First uploaded on: 27-12-2023 at 02:28 IST; Updated: December 27, 2023 02:33 IST.
After Vinod who targeted the Governor, Muralikrishnan hurled petrol bomb at the God, as He did not respond to his prayers!
The dangerous increasing “Petrol bomb” culture in Tamilnadu: Throwing “Petrol bomb” has become order of the day in Tamilnadu for various reasons, but, it has been a very dangerous sign of violence taking roots. Just few days back, a charge-sheeter hurled several petrol bombs towards the Governor’s House in Chennai in front of police as appeared in the media with photographs and videos. Ironically, he has given a statement to the police that he decided to throw bobs towards the Governor’s House, as he refused to stop NEET and so on. Really, it is intriguing as to how the rowdies could settle score with the authorities through such violent and extreme methods just like terrorists. Now, news come that a devotee hurled petrol bomb on the deity, as his prayers were not answered. So petrol bombs have become so easy for people to manufacture, handle, hurl and produce the desired result.
During the Deepavali times, the threat of “Petrol bomb” at crowded streets is unimaginable: As it has been Deepavali time, hundreds and thousands of people have been crowding the streets, particularly, where shops are there. The “Town,” Parrys corner and Flower Bazar area has been so popular for shopping by the middle, lower-middle and monthly income people to buy their requirement, as they believe the goods are sold cheaply there. Thus, this type of shopping has been going on for many decades. However, now, they face a dangerous trend of “petrol bomb” thrown, that too, inside a temple. Indian Today noted that A 39-year-old man has been arrested for hurling a Molotov cocktail / petrol bomb at a temple in Chennai allegedly under the influence of alcohol[1]. DtNext mentioned it as “Molotov cocktail,” perhaps fitting to the nature of the bomb thrower, who was reportedly under the drunken condition. The petrol bomb had landed in front of the idol at the temple[2]. Thus, his offer has reached the idol correctly by falling before.
10-11-2023 Friday a devotee throwing petrol bomb inside Santum Sanctorum: morning Police said the incident took place at the Sri Veerabadraswami temple located near Parrys in Chennai[3] at the junction of Audiappan Naicken Street and Govindappa Naicken Street. Police said the priests were performing puja around 8.45 AM on Friday 10-11-2023, when the accused, Murali Krishnan, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, came there with the beer bottle containing petrol. The priest realizing his drunked status asked not to come inside. However, he hurled the petrol bomb[4] towards the deity inside the sanctum sanctorum. Even as the temple priest told him not to enter, he took out a bottle filled with petrol and hurled the bomb[5]. The priest rushed out in panic. In the impact, the garland of the deity was burnt[6]. Other devotees who were inside the premises fled the scene[7]. Traffic police personnel who were on duty nearby rushed to the temple on hearing the commotion[8]. They overpowered the man when he tried to escape. Later, he was handed over to the Law and Order police personnel. In fact, the entire event was recorded in the CCTV.
The petrol bomb thrown when several people watching: No one was injured in the incident. Police told India Today TV that Murali Krishnan had several other cases registered against him and that he had come out on bail just a few days ago[9]. Murali Krishnan was also a regular visitor to the temple, officials added. According to the surveillance footage, Krishnan was sitting inside a shop and filling up petrol in an alcohol bottle[10]. Several people of the te-shop were watching what he was doing, but, did not question him. He was arrested by Greater Chennai Police (GCP) for throwing a petrol bomb at a temple located near Parrys corner in the northern part of the city[11].
Intoxicated devotee did: According to the police, at 8:45 am., the accused, identified as J Murali Krishanan, had entered the Sri Veerabhadra Swamy temple at the Athiyappa street-Govindappa Naicken Street Junction and hurled the bottle filled with petrol at the deity inside the temple[12]. Umachandran, a priest at the temple, said that the man had entered with a bottle-like object, lit it with a lighter and hurled it towards the deity. “We were sitting outside when a man entered the temple wearing slippers and went near the garbhagriha and was shouting that God did not answer his prayers. He then threw the bottle. We were not near the deity, so none of us got injured. The flowers offered to God were burnt. Four of us were present there. After hearing the sound, everyone rushed inside and poured water to douse the flame,” he added.
The petrol bomber has been a charge-sheeter – according to the Police: After being alerted by the public, the police reached the spot and arrested the accused. The temple was locked following the incident. According to sources, the accused, who was running a wholesale and retail dry fruit business, suffered a setback and was dejected over not being able to come over it. The CCTV visual of the accused, wearing a face mask and pouring the petrol into a beer bottle sitting inside a tea shop, has gone viral on social media. In a statement, the police said that the accused, who has previous cases against him, had been a regular visitor to the temple. He reportedly confessed that he was running his business “G.K. Traders” dealing with dry fruits, mainly cashew nuts, but incurred heavy losses. So he took loans and was harassed by the lenders. He claimed that he was praying to God, but He did not answer to solve his financial problem. Therefore, he decided to attack. This reported confession appears to be illogical, unreasonable and meaningless, as he was involved in many crimes, for which, he cannot claim that God helped him to commit suh crimes and sins.
Violence has to be treated seriously: As this temple comes under the administration of TN Government District Revenue Officer, Judge Niranjan visited the spot and inspected it. Thus, it is evident that the authorities have taken serious note about the incident. Other reports say that the accused was wearing certain religious chains around his neck pointing to a religion, but, after arrest, they were removed or not appearing and therefore, such suspicion also noted in the attack. Initially, the Coimbatore cooker blast incidence was dubbed as an ordinary accident, but, it turned out to be a well-planned attack and perhaps stopped, as it exploded early. Therefore, the “petrol bomb” violent culture cannot be brushed aside as lunatic act and so on, as the bomb is bomb and it is dangerous.
Case registered under the Explosive Substances Act and arrested: The police added that initial investigation has revealed that the accused had indulged in the offence due to his incoherent state of mind following heavy intoxication. The city police also confirmed that no one was injured in the incident. A case has been registered against Muralikrishnan under the Explosive Substances Act and the police are carrying out further probe. He has already been involved in many cases including attempt to murder, murder, theft, violence, and other cases amounting to nine. Therefore, it is intriguing why such a person has chosen the temple for hurling the petrol bomb.
AIADMK, BJP leaders condemn the incident: Condemning the incident, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai took to X and wrote, “A petrol bomb was hurled at the party office of BJP; then at the Raj Bhavan and now a petrol bomb has been hurled inside a temple. The incident is shocking. Law-and-order has hit rock bottom in Tamil Nadu. The DMK’s failure to control separatist organisations that talk about pseudo-secularism and half-baked atheism has resulted in petrol bombs being hurled inside temples.” The AIADMK leaders including the former CM have expressed their concern over the bombing.
[1] India Today, Drunk Chennai man hurls petrol bomb at temple, arrested, Shilpa Nair Chennai, Published By: Poulami Kundu; Published On:Nov 10, 2023; UPDATED: Nov 10, 2023 21:45 IST.
[9] MSN, Drunk Chennai man hurls petrol bomb at temple, arrested, Shilpa Nair Chennai, India Today-Published By: Poulami Kundu; Published On:Nov 10, 2023; UPDATED: Nov 10, 2023 21:45 IST.
The hate speech, anti-Hindu rant or Sanatan eradication campaign – why and how such violations have been taking place continuously in Tamilnadu? (3)
06-09-2023 FIR filed on Congress Minister, Karanataka: In Rampur, an FIR has been registered at the Civil Lines police station against Udhayanidhi and Priyank Kharge for allegedly hurting religious sentiments based on a complaint by an advocate, Ram Singh Lodhi, police said on Wednesday. Both leaders have been booked under sections 295A (insults to the religious beliefs of a class) and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) of IPC. “A case has been registered against Udhayanidhi for his statement calling for eradication of Sanatana Dharma and against Kharge for supporting the statement,” a senior police officer said, requesting anonymity. Though other Congress spokespersons and leaders had been cautious, he came out openly to support the DMK minister.
FIR registered with different sections of IPC: In his complaint, Lodhi has alleged: “Udhayanidhi compared Sanatana Dharma with diseases like dengue and malaria, and said it should be eradicated… This remark hurt the religious feelings of Sanatanis like me and should be seen as an act of creating hatred among people.” In Madurai, police have registered a case against Paramhans Acharya, a seer from Ayodhya, for allegedly issuing death threat by putting bounty on Udhayanidhi over his remark. The cyber crime police have registered a case under various IPC sections, including 153 (provocation to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between different sections of people) and 506 (criminal intimidation) based on a complaint by J Devasenan, a DMK functionary. The also named an Uttar Pradesh-based journalist Piyush Rai for recording and posting on social media the seer’s video which, Devasenan alleged has “caused panic and fear among the people of Tamil Nadu and may lead to communal riots and disturb public peace.” In the purported video, released on Tuesday, the seer is heard saying: “…if required, I myself will behead MK Stalin’s son, and I will also increase the bounty of ₹10 crore if that is not enough for beheading him.”
2022-23 how the Dravidian model with Dravidian stock work to blaspheme Hindu religion: After the DMK coming to power, the Dravidian ideologists have been trying to divide the mutts based on parochial issues like caste, liturgy, Vaishnava-Siva polemics etc. They also try to exploit the inter and intra differences among the various believing systems of Hindu faith by raking up settled issues. As the mutts have been the owners of billions of rupees worth of properties and temples, the atheist and Dravidian politicians have been trying to threaten the Mutt heats with different non-issues. The “Pattina-pravesam” was opposed by the DK and the DMK gave a tacit support. Then with the scheme of “any caste person can become an archaka,” they even divided the same mutt or the believing muts of a particular denomination. With “Saivism,” they also try to makem themdeclare that they are Savites and not Hindus. However, all have to come under “Hindu” only as per the Art.25 of the Indian Constitution.
BJP writes to the TN Governor requesting permission to proceed legally: Just after DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin came out with a statement hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Sanatan Dharma row, the BJP leaders approached Tamil Nadu governor T N Ravi seeking action against the minister[1]. State BJP chief K Annamalai took to social media platform X to report about the meeting[2]. He said the senior leaders of the party met T N governor R N Ravi to submit memorandums against the DMK Minister. They sought the Governor’s intervention in filing cases in line with the Supreme Court’s guidelines against Udhayanidhi Stalin for his alleged “hate speech” at the Sanatana Eradication conference. The leaders have also asked for the dismissal of Minister P K Sekar Babu for attending the conference, where Udhayanidhi made the remark, which they allege was “a violation of his oath to office.” This comes a day after an FIR has been registered against Amit Malviya, in charge of BJP’s IT department, for “distorting Tamil Nadu Youth Welfare Minister Udhaynidhi Stalin’s remark on Sanatan Dharma.” According to local police, a case was registered against Malviya on Wednesday under IPC sections for deliberately misrepresenting Udhayanidhi’s remark to cause disharmony and create enmity among different sections of people. Malviya had posted on X that the DMK leader had called for “genocide” of 80 per cent population who follow Sanatan Dharma. The FIR was registered following a complaint, they said and did not elaborate.
07-09-2023 – A Raja too blasphemed through his hate speech: An application has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking registration of an FIR against Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin for his recent statements made against ‘Sanatana Dharma’[3]. The plea also seeks contempt action against the Delhi Police and Chennai Police for not complying with the Supreme Court’s direction to register suo motu FIR in hate speech cases[4]. The plea seeks for registration of an FIR against Stalin for the act of ‘outraging religious feelings, insult of the followers of Hindu religion and instigating enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion’[5]. It is contended that the statements amount to offences punishable under Sections 153A, 153B, 295A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code[6]. The plea has also sought for registration of an FIR against A Raja, MP from Tamil Nadu and former Cabinet Minister, for his remarks against Sanatana Dharma[7]. Raja on Thursday (07.09.2023) compared Sanatana Dharma to diseases such as HIV and leprosy[8]. This Raja has been notorious for making such hate speech continuously, but no action has been taken. Many videos have been available as evidence for his speech.
How A. Raja MP could make hate speech continuoysly?: As these Dravidian ideologists continue to blaspheme, but the local police takes no action, because, they cannot take action against their own ministers, this type of hate speech has been continuing without check. The plea has been filed by Advocate Vineet Jindal, who said that, being a Hindu and a follower of Sanatana dharma, his religious sentiments have been hurt by the statements made by Udhayanidhi Stalin. The applicant alleges that Udhayanidhi Stalin calling for eradication of Sanatana Dharma and comparing Sanatana tp mosquitoes, dengue, corona, and malaria amounts to hate speech[9]. The applications have been filed by Jindal in the case of Shaheen Abdullah v. Union of India which seeks action against hate speeches[10]. Jindal has filed one application to get himself impleaded as a party in the case and another application seeking directions for FIR against the DMK leaders. The TN CM, Stalin happens to be the Minister for Police, Law and order etc., and instead of controlling the situation, he has issued a statement supporting Udhyanidhi’s speech. This is how such hatredness has been promoted, nurtured and encouraged in the state for the last 70 years.
The DK and DMK have been anti-caste and anti-religion, as some try to interpret: The general narratives of the Dravidian ideology by non-Tamilians woukd be of this stereo-typed nature without going into the details. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, has its roots in the Self-Respect Movement begun by EV Ramaswamy ‘Periyar’[11]. The early 20th-century movement championed opposition to caste and religion and positioned itself as a rationalist movement against social evils[12]. But, most of their attacks had been against Hindu religion only. Through the years, these ideals have influenced the state’s politics, including the parties DMK and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which emerged out of the movement. Periyar, the founder of the Self-Respect Movement (1925), was strongly anti-caste and anti-religion in his outlook, but they have been in reality anti-Hindu and castesist. He advocated major social reforms related to caste and gender, and opposed the domination of Hindi, emphasising the distinct cultural identity of the Tamil nation. Here, it has to be identified with the Tamil separatism.
[1] The week, TN BJP leaders meet Governor Ravi against Udayanidhi Stalin as police file case against Amit Malviya, Updated: September 07, 2023 13:30 IST.
[3] LiveLaw, Plea In Supreme Court Seeks FIR Against DMK Leaders Udhayanidhi Stalin and A Raja For Remarks Against ‘Sanatana Dharma‘, Sheryl Sebastian 7 Sept 2023 7:13 PM.
[5] ZeeNews, Sanatan Dharma Remark Row: Plea Seeking FIR Against Udhayanidhi Stalin Filed In Supreme Court, Last Updated: Sep 07, 2023, 10:33 PM IST|Source: IANS
[11] Indian Express, Row over Sanatan Dharma: The history of DMK’s anti-religion, anti-caste origins, Written by Rishika Singh, New Delhi | First published on: 04-09-2023 at 15:54 IST; Updated: September 6, 2023 16:39 IST.
The hate speech, anti-Hindu rant or Sanatan eradication campaign – why and how such violations have been taking place continuously in Tamilnadu? (2)
Congress divided in opposing and supporting Sanatan and DMK: While Venugopal harped on freedom of expression Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s son and Karnataka MLA Priyank Kharge supported Stalin’s claims. Kharge said any religion that does not give equal rights is not a religion and “is as good as a disease”. “Any religion that does not promote equality, any religion that doesn’t ensure that you have the dignity of being a human being is not a religion, according to me. So it is as good as a disease,” Priyank Kharge said. Congress leader and former Union minister Karan Singh, however, termed the DMK leader’s statement as “preposterous” and “most unfortunate”. He has been a very matured and respectable leader and his response in this context has to be noted. “Thiru Udhayanidhi’s preposterous statement that Sanatan Dharma should be eradicated is most unfortunate. Crores of people in this country follow, to a lesser or greater extent the tenets of Sanatan Dharma. “Besides, the greatest Sanatan Dharma temples in the world are in Tamil Nadu – in Thanjavur, in Srirangam, in Thiruvannamalai, in Chidambaram, in Madurai, in Suchindram, in Rameshwaram and many more,” Singh said in a statement. “It is shocking that a responsible politician should make this kind of a totally unacceptable statement. I have the highest regard for the magnificent Tamil culture but I take strong objection to the statement made by Thiru Udhayanidhi,” he said.
Udhyanidhi has been adamant to repeat to say what he has said: Udhayanidhi is unrelenting, because, it is evident that the party has decided to support him. “Sanatanam enslaved women and it was Dravidianism which broke those shackles[1]……. I am ready to present the extensive writings of Periyar and Ambedkar, who conducted in-depth research on Sanatana Dharma and its negative impact on society in any forum….Day before Saturday I spoke at a function about it (Sanatana Dharma). Whatever I said, I’ll repeat the same thing again and again…I included all the religions and not just Hindus…I spoke condemning the caste differences that’s all…”, the DMK leader was quoted by ANI as saying in Thoothukudi[2]. Stalin has also issued a statement supporting his speech and clarifying the position. Arguing that merely opposing an ideology doesn’t mean seeking the killing of those subscribing to it, the DMK leader sought to know[3] whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi means he wants to kill Congressmen when he proclaims that he wants India to be “Congress-mufth.” Udhayanidhi also accused the BJP of “twisting” his statement and spreading lies that he called for “genocide of Hindus”, saying he only batted for an equitable society where people from all walks of life enjoy equal rights[4]. It is evident that he has been exposing himself by giving more such explanation, as he has not understood the words properly. The word “ozhippu = destruction, elimination” is different from “muft = free, making free of”
Non-Congress leaders have also been divided: Amit Malviya hit out at him on social media. He alleged that Udayanidhi was calling for genocide of 80% population of Bharat. Home Minister Amit Shah said Udayanidhi had insulted the country’s “culture, history and Sanatana Dharma,” and in Delhi an advocate filed a complaint with the police commissioner, saying that the comments presented a clear case of hate speech. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee warned against making remarks which could hurt the sentiments of other people. “Every religion has separate sentiments. India is about ‘Unity in Diversity’ which is our origin. We should not be involved in any matter which might hurt a section of people”, she told news agency PTI. The left media (like The Wire etc) continues to support such propaganda[5]. “The controversy also reveals that at this moment, when the dominant political project of our times is concerned with crafting an idea of Hinduism as a monolith and as a sanatana dharma, the significance of the ideas of towering figures like Periyar and Ambedkar is increasing”[6].
Without caste and casteism, there is no electoral battle in Tamilnadu: In any case, the Indians other the Tamilnadu state, generally know the anti-Hindu stance of the Dravidian parties and therefore, they do not believe or rely upon the political parties like DK, DMK etc. Moreover, their “anti-Hindi,” anti-north attitudes have been noticeable and hurting them for the last 75 years and more. Perhaps, the only state in India that has been thriving with separatist ideology has been Tamilndu and its Dravidian ideologists. As for as the Tamilndu is concerned, the DMK and the AIADMK have been ruling alternativesly, as without them, there has not been any alternative choice for voting. Therefore, there is no question of “Hindu vote bank” in Tamilnadu and casteism only fetches votes. Thus, even the promoters of caste, casteism and caste differences have been the Dravidian politicians, ideologists and other supporting groups. From the 1950-70s onwards how casteism controlled the Dravidian polity, politics and votebank has been an open secret. Without politics, there is no electoral battle in Tamilnadu and however, they only very often cry that caste should be abolished and so on.
262 signed a petition to SC to take suo moto action: In a letter to the Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, more than 260 eminent citizens, including former judges and officials, urged him to take note of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s ‘Sanatan Dharma’ remark[7]. Former Delhi HC judge S N Dhingra who is one of the signatories of the letter said that not only did Stalin make a hate speech but he refused to apologise for his remarks[8]. The letter by 262 people said the undersigned are deeply concerned over the remarks made by Stalin and that these remarks undeniably amount to “hate speech” against a large population of India and strike at the very core of the Constitution of India which envisages Bharat as a secular nation[9]. The letter said that action needs to be taken in order to preserve the secular character of the country[10]. Any delay on the part of the administration in taking action on “very serious issues” will invite the court’s contempt, it said[11]. The letter said the state government has refused to take action and allegedly acted in contempt of the Court’s orders and “gravely undermined or rather made a mockery of the rule of law”. “We urge the Supreme Court to take the suo moto notice of contempt, ensuring accountability for the inaction of the State Government of Tamil Nadu, and take decisive steps to prevent the inducement of hate speech, preserving public order and peace and we request you to take immediate appropriate actions. “We sincerely hope for the thoughtful consideration of our plea and implore immediate measures to ensure justice and rule of law to prevail,” it said[12].
FIRs have been filed for hate speech: Multiple cases have been registered in various parts of the country in connection with Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s controversial remark on Sanatana Dharma and reactions against it[13]. An FIR has been registered against Udhayanidi and Priyank Kharge — Karnataka minister and Congress leader who backed the Tamil Nadu minister’s remark — at Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, while cases were also registered against BJP IT department in-charge Amit Malviya for distorting the DMK leader’s remark and against an Ayodhya-based seer for putting a bounty on Udhayanidhi[14]. On September 2, Udhayanidhi, son of Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin, alleged that Sanatana Dharma is “against social justice and equality” and it should hence be “eradicated”, triggering nationwide uproar. Days later, Malviya posted on X (formerly twitter) that the DMK leader had called for “genocide” of 80% population who follow Sanatana Dharma. An FIR has been registered against him at Tiruchirappalli for deliberately misrepresenting Udhayanidhi’s remark to “cause disharmony” and “create enmity among different sections of people” under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), police said on Wednesday, 06-09-2023.
[1] Hindustan Times, ‘Will repeat the same thing again & again’: Udhayanidhi on his ‘Sanatana’ remark, By HT News Desk | Written by Aryan Prakash, Sep 04, 2023 08:14 PM IST.
[7] Outlook, Sanatan Dharma Remark: Over 260 Eminent Citizens Write To CJI DY Chandrachud To Take Taken Against Udhayanidhi Stalin, Outlook Web Deskdown, UPDATED: 05 SEP 2023 3:08 PM.
[9] Bench and Bar, These judges have signed statement urging CJI to act against Udhayanidhi Stalin for remarks on Sanatan Dharma, Debayan Roy, Published on: 05 Sep 2023, 2:50 pm.
[11] The Hindu, 262 citizens write to CJI to take suo motu contempt against T.N. for failing to act against Udhayanidhi ‘hate speech’, THE HINDU BUREAU September 05, 2023 02:03 pm | Updated 02:03 pm IST – NEW DELHI,
The hate speech, anti-Hindu rant or Sanatan eradication campaign – why and how such violations have been taking place continuously in Tamilnadu? (1)
02-09-2023 – Sanatana Eradication conference held: A Sanatanam (Sanatana Dharma) Abolition / Eradication Conclave [hereinafter mentioned as SEC] was held in Chennai on 02-09-2023 with the known group of ideologists, who have been against Hindu religion, as proven by their past speeches and writings. The so-called Progressive Writers Association, Dravidar Kazhagam, Viduthalai Siruthaikal, Vaikundar group, CPI, CPI(M), and other splinter groups joined together and organized the one-day conclave. Here, two DMK ministers, ironically, including the Minister for Hindu Religious Endowment participated sitting with other rabble-rousers of the day. These groups have been notorious for their misinterpreting the past, concocting events and carrying on propaganda with such tactics. It has been a noticeable trend that whenever, DMK comes to power, these groups would be emboldened to gather together and organize such meetings, seminars, workshops and demonstrations at different places of Tamilnadu. Whenever, they raise the pitch of separatism, they get some publicity and then disappear. Therefore, it is evident that the ruling DMK and DK give support to these groups. Just in July 2023, the same groups participated in the “World Tamil Conference,” and spoke in the same tone and tenor at Kula Lumpur, Malaysia, but the local minister condemned the speeches, particularly that of Thirumavalavan. Yet, they have tried to repeat here for the reasons known to them[1].
Udhyanidhi’s discourse on the eradication of Sanatana Dharma: Invited as a special speaker, Tamil Nadu Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs and son of Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, Udayanidhi Stalin said that Sanatana Dharma is like mosquitoes, dengue and malaria, and “it has to be eradicated”[2]. The Tamilnadu audience knows very well that he has not been any orator of the Dravidian nature, not-so-good speaker or competent to speak about such political ideologies. Yet, as he has been made a minister, the other ministers and DMK functionaries have started expressing their sycophancy right inside the TN Assembly and also outside. Thus, perhaps, he has been emboldened to talk about anything and get away. He was speaking at organised by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Forum. Udayanidhi in his speech said[3]: “I thank the organisers for giving me the opportunity to speak at this conference to eradicate Sanatana Dharma. I congratulate the organisers for calling the conference as ‘eradication of Santana Dharma’ instead of ‘opposing Sanatana Dharma’….. “[4] There are certain things which we have to eradicate and we cannot merely oppose. Mosquitoes, dengue, corona and malaria are things which we cannot oppose, we have to eradicate them. Sanatanam is also like this. Eradication and not opposing Sanatanam has to be our first task,” he added[5].
Sanatanam – he gave his explanation, condemned and recommended for eradication: The Sports Minister who is also the state secretary of DMK youth wing said that Sanatana Dharma was opposed to both equality and social justice[6]. He further added[7]: “What is the meaning of Sanatanam? Eternal or something that cannot be changed, something that cannot be questioned and that is the meaning of Sanatanam.” The young leader, who is also a movie actor and producer[8], said that “Sanatanam used to divide people by caste and segregate them. He said[9]: “However, our Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) brought every community into one village and gave it the name Samathuvapuram (equality village).” Thus, he himself expounded the concept of Sanatanam, condemned and recommended for eradication. As their speeches have been clearly against Hindu religion, Hindus and faith, no explanation is required for the listeners what is targeted and attacked. The way of Drvidian ideologists talk against the Hindu religion, blaspheming etc., are also been well-known. As none of them has been prosecuted, as they themselves ruling and all the persons of various departments have been loyal to them, all FIRs and proceedings are kept in cold storage or forgotten forever.
Blasphemical propaganda converted into political campaign: Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP is to campaign extensively against the statement of Stalin against the Sanatana Dharma[10]. “Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is a part of the INDIA bloc, was calling for genocide of the majority population in the country that believes in Sanatana Dharma. The BJP leader said that this would amount to “genocide of 80 per cent of the population”. In a post on X, the BJP state president said[11], “The only resolve of the Gopalapuram family is to accumulate wealth beyond state’s GDP. Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin, you and your father, or his or your ideologue have a bought out idea from Christian missionaries and the idea of those missionaries was to cultivate dimwits like you to parrot their malicious ideology.” Of late, because of the elections coming nearer, the BJP cadres and associated groups have been diluting their ideology. Thus, here also, instead of dealing the blasphemy issue directly and legally, the BJP has already diverted the issue. Under the guise of “Hindutwa,” they have been doing antics and they are not all match for the Dravidian political tactics.
Understanding the stand, the DMK has become adamant: The BJP is also planning to make this a major campaign across the country over Udhayanidhi’s statement. In fact, they have started already. The BJP has already asked questions as to whether the INDIA front agreed upon this in their meeting in Mumbai. ‘Won’t be cowed down,’ Udhayanidhi. Udhayanidhi Stalin has defended himself on his comments on Sanatana Dharma, and said he won’t be cowed down by saffron threats and was ready to face any legal challenge. The DMK leader posted on X: “Bring it on, I am ready to face any legal challenge . We will not be cowed down by such usual saffron threats. We the followers of Periyar, Anna and Kalaignar, would fight forever to uphold social justice and establish an egalitarian society under the able guidance of our honourable CM.” Thus, compounding rhetoric would lose its legality. Then, as the Defense Minister himself suggested to apologize, once that is done, the entire chapter would be closed and against the Dravidian groups start another anti-Hindu propaganda. During the last two years, many cases have been filed against such anti-Hindu rants, but, nothing happened. The rabble-rousers have come out on bail and indulging in the same campaign.
04-09-2023 – Congress has been in a dilemma for this anti-Hindu rants: The anti-Modi, BJP opposing parties have just been coming together with their inherent contradictions. Thus, Congress has been uncomfortable with the speech of DMK, as it cannot win elections with such anti-Hindu stance in north India. While Tamil Nadu Congress leader Nana Patole had distanced the party from Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks saying that the Congress party respects all religions and does not want to make any comments that could hurt anyone’s sentiments, the principal opposition party on Monday 04-09-2023 stressed that others also have the freedom to express their views[12]. AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said while the Congress’ stand is clear, every other political party has the freedom to express its own view[13]. “Actually, our view is very clear – ‘Sarvadharma Sambhav’ (equal respect to all religions) is the Congress ideology. But, you have to understand that every political party has its own freedom to tell their views,” he said. “We are respecting everybody’s beliefs,” the Congress leader said.
[1] Even for this issue, the Malaysian Hindu Associations have condemned the speech of Udhayanidhi and gave their protest letter to the Indian High Commission office.
[2] The Tribune, ‘Sanatana Dharma like dengue and malaria, needs to be eradicated’: MK Stalin’s son rakes controversy- BJP to campaign extensively, Udhayanidhi says ‘won’t be cowed down‘, Updated At: Sep 03, 2023 03:32 PM (IST).
[4] Deccan Herald, Sanatana Dharma should be eradicated: M K Stalin son’s statement stokes controversy, ETB Sivapriyan, DHNS, Published 03 September 2023, 10:25 IST; Last Updated 03 September 2023, 10:25 IST.
[8] Siasat, Udayanidhi Stalin’s ‘Sanathana Dharma is like dengue’ remark creates stir, Indo-Asian News Service Follow on Twitter| Posted by Sameer Khan | Updated: 3rd September 2023 9:33 am IST.
Why the DK-DMK cadres have been criticizing and attacking Indian space missions directly and indirectly?
Modi came to ISRO and congratulated the scientists: In a groundbreaking achievement, India has solidified its place in space history by successfully landing on the lunar South Pole. Now, it is India that has first to land on the lunar surface, particularly on the southern pole. Generally, common people say that they could not see the other side of the Moon. Even now, some media mentioned that Indian lunar vehicle landed on the dark side of the Moon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his heartfelt congratulations to Indian scientists and citizens, heralding the event as an unforgettable day for the nation. The culmination of the mission, however, lay in the final moments of landing, as ISRO’s Automatic Landing Sequence (ALS) took over, guiding Vikram LM to a gentle touchdown on the lunar surface. For this also, the TN communists and others criticized that Modi could go to ISRO immediately, but not to Manipur.
DMK started criticizing the Chandraayan programme: As the nation revelled in the triumph of ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3, a sour note emerged from the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) party, drawing criticism for attempting to attribute the success to their political legacy. “Rajiv Gandhi”, the DMK Student Wing President, and Spokesperson, took to Twitter to assert that the accomplishments of Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, and Chandrayaan-3, along with the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyan), owed their success to Tamil Nadu’s two-language policy championed by the late DMK leader, Annadurai. That is, just because, they opposed Hindi and struck to Tamil and English, they could learn English and excel in the space science and lunar technology to become experts. Thus, he claims that all credit goes to Annadurai! A fantastic and fabulous claim to be made, but, the Dravidian stock has been capable of making such claims without any basis. Suddenly, they also started claiming that Tamil scientists only helped for the success of the space programme and so on. In fact, in ISRO projects many Indians have been involved since the early days and they do not claim that they are Malayalis, Telugus, Kannadigas, Maharastrian, Biharis, Bengalis and so on.
EVR’s criticism condemned now: Much like in the past, Dravidian Stockists attempted to associate any positive developments in Tamil Nadu or achievements by Tamils with the legacy of Dravidian leaders like Periyar, Karunanidhi, and Annadurai. When the Chandrayaan 3 mission successfully landed, an old statement attributed to Dravidian leader E. V. Ramasamy Naicker gained traction on social media. Many used this statement to ridicule him for making a disparaging comment about India. Reportedly, during the time of Independence, Ramasamy Naicker remarked that India wouldn’t even be capable of producing a safety pin if the British were to leave the country. Following the triumphant achievement of Chandrayaan-3, this particular statement made by Periyar started trending, and users on social media engaged in mockery directed at him. It is well known that EVR was deposed before the Cripp’s Mission and sought for a separate state and urged, otherwise, India should not be given freedom. How he differed with Jinnah and Ambedkar and vice versa are also well known. Thus, these types of bemused and confused claims are forgotten.
DK-DMK cadres still supporting foreign rule in India: Earlier, the present leader of Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) Veeramani criticized the ISRO scientists going to Tirumla and praying for the success of the Chandraayan. Thus, the criticism of the Dravidologists works in different ways, just to attack, whenever, India achieves something. From the days of EVR, they have had such coolie mentality of criticizing our own people and leaders, appreciating the British and British rule. There are many in the DK-DMK cadres that just because of the British, Indians get schools, colleges, universities and thus education. It is well-known that these parties were opposing Indian freedom, the continuation of the British rule and demanding a separate state “Dravidstan.”
Suppressing the facts and past – the DMK’s policy: In yet another occurrence of a DMK leader allegedly showing disrespect towards an ISRO scientist, which has been detailed in the book authored by former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan, is currently gaining attention across social media platforms. An excerpt from Nambi Narayanan’s book, titled “Ready to Fire,” recounts an incident where the coasts of Kanyakumari location were initially selected as the primary choice for constructing the ISRO launch pad. However, due to the alleged actions of an intoxicated DMK Minister, the location was changed to Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The book also highlights how the DMK minister insulted Vikram Sarabhai, the trailblazer behind India’s space research efforts.
How the Launching station location changed from Tamilnadu to Andhrapradesh: The excerpt from the book reads: “Not many know that Sriharikota itself was not ISRO’s first choice for a launch pad. It was one of the few sites identified by senior ISRO scientist R M Vasagam, another being a place south of Nagapattinam. Both were in Tamil Nadu. For launching polar satellites, it was clear to us, our launch pad has to be on the eastern coast. Launching the rocket along the spin of the earth, it gave a huge advantage of cost; also by manouevring the rocket to the south after its initial eastward journey, we avoided flying over any landmass. The coastline of Kanyakumari was considered in the late 1960s, but a terrible mishandling by the government of Tamil Nadu, and a timely pitch by Andhra Pradesh, made Sriharikota happen.
Vikram Sarabhai insulted by the DMK Minister: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C N Annadurai was to participate in a discussion with Sarabhai and a few scientists and officials over the identification of a site from a shortlist proposed by Vikram Sarabhai. Annadurai could not attend the meeting because of severe shoulder pain, and he deputed Mathiyazhagan, one of his ministers, for the meeting. Sarabhai was kept waiting, and after sometime, the minister was ‘brought’ to the meeting—with a few holding him from falling. The politician irritated Sarabhai no end with his impossible demands and incoherence[1]. Much before the meeting got over, Sarabhai had decided Tamil Nadu is not the place to be.Just then Andhra Pradesh made an offer virtually nobody could refuse. Take the 26,000 acre Sriharikota island, he told Sarabhai. With India’s rocket launch pad coming up there, the Andhra Pradesh government must have realised that the sparsely inhabited place may see some development.”
EVR sources unverifiable: As I pointed out many times, there is no authentic book of EVR and day by day more myths are created and they cannot be verified with the sources. In fact, the DK headquarter at Egmore do not allow researcher to verify with the manuscripts of EVR, his tapped speech and other secondary sources. The researchers go on quote from Anaimuthu and the compiled one of DK published selectively picking lines from here and there from the printed veson of Kudi Arasu, Viduthalai and other issues. “Viduthalai” Rajendran, S.V. Rajadrai and others also followed the same methodology. But for these documents, no other documents are produced. The old copies of “The Mail” and other dailies of 1940s can be referred to, where, there had been bits of news about the activities of EVR. Even the dairies of EVR, S. Ramanthan, Erode Ramu etc., are also not made available to researchers.
Better join mainstream: This type of parochial, close-minded and insular attitude and ideology would not bring people together. Continuously doing such propaganda also amounts to telling lies and misleading the public. The moment, they come to know, the propagandists would lose their credit and people would not support them, but forget. As the world becomes near and near with people coming together and started knowing each other and also the facts, it is better that biased, prejudiced and narrow-minded politicians, ideologists and theoreticians stop their propaganda. Better they join the mainstream and work for the benefit of people and humanity.
The 11th World Tamil Conference started and ended with controversies in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia with lesser Academics!
International Association of Tamil Research (IATR) infected with politics and controversies: The World Tamil Conference has been politicized from the beginning itself, as it is sponsored by the Tamilnadu State government. However, of late, the Dravidian protagonists get divided for several reasons. While the DK-DMK dichotomy had love-hate relationships initially, they get adjusted with ideological orientation. Then came the DMK-AIADMK divide that worked explicitly with levels of Tamil chauvinism, Dravidian separatism and racial bigotry. Nobura Karashima was the President of the International Association of Tamil Research (IATR) from 1989 to 2010. He organized the 8th World Tamil Conference in 1995 at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. However, he and IATR boycotted the 9th World Tamil Conference in 2009 due to political interference. Noboru Karashima was president of the International Association for Tamil Research (IATR), which holds the World Tamil Conference (WTC). In 2010, Karashima refused to give consent to the then DMK Government to hold the WTC forcing the latter to have a jamboree as the ‘World Classical Tamil Conference’. He resigned from the post of president in 2010 because of the same reason.
Sharjah to Singapore to Malaysia to Chennai – the venue of the 11th conference: Coming to the 11th World Tamil Conference, with commercialization, many groups started informing that they were conducting the “World Tamil Conference,” inviting papers and even demanding amounts as processing fees of the papers[1]. Particularly during 2021, 2022 and 2023, such groups exploited many virtually cheating them[2]. The 11th World Tamil Research Conference was affected much, because of the individual aggrandizements, political interference and linguistic bigotry[3]. I have posted a blog about it how the venue was changed from Sharjah to Singapore to Malaysia to Chennai[4]. But, again, the claim has been made that the just concluded “11th International Conference Seminar” at Chennai has nothing to do with the IATR.
Saravanan-Sivakumar wrangle: The preliminary meeting of the organising committee for the 11th World Tamil Research Conference here, which started on 21-07-2023, nearly ended in blows when MIC deputy president M Saravanan was initially not given a slot to speak at the event. The two-hour joint Pakatan Harapan-MIC meeting, which was chaired by human resources minister V Sivakumar, with Saravanan as his co-chair, at first decided that only the minister would address the international conference followed by the keynote speech of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. However, a source said this was questioned by one of Saravanan’s supporters who asked why Saravanan, who he said was a better-known leader and also co-chairman, was not being given the same treatment as Sivakumar[5].
Is it political rivalry or an academic fight?: “A peeved Saravanan thumped the table and said he would not beg the committee for an opportunity to speak. “He then asked what would happen if people gathered to protest against the decision not to allow him to speak. “Sparks flew when former MIC leader Ohms Thiagarajan, who is with PKR now, said Saravanan’s words could be interpreted as being tantamount to rowdyism[6]. “Saravanan’s supporters rushed up to him, but the situation was defused by others who stopped them in the nick of time,” the source said.
Finally settled down for the conduct of the conference: Following the incident, the source said Sivakumar declared that both leaders would address the 600 delegates at the three-day event, which also sees foreign participation. When contacted, Saravanan said his supporters reacted when the meeting was told that he would not be allowed to speak although he had been appointed co-chairman by Anwar. “I’m not a deputy chairman but a co-chairman, appointed by the prime minister. “I should be treated fairly. Don’t make me an underdog just because I’m not a minister (anymore). “This is a world Tamil conference. Everyone knows where I stand globally when you talk about Tamil language and literature,” he said. A video clip of the incident is making the rounds.
Tamil vs Telugu controversy: Another news informed that the appointment of Human Resources Minister Sivakumar Varatharaju Naidu – a Telugu by birth – as its chairman baffled[7]. V. Sivakumar as he is often referred to is not known to Tamil scholars and academicians worldwide. Furthermore, he is not a deeply learned Tamil literature scholar nor passionately interested in Tamil. He is not even familiar with local Tamil writers and poets. Jointly organised by the International Association of Tamil Research (IATR), Universiti Malaya, OMS Foundation and the Malaysian government, the conference is poised to be a gathering of Tamil scholars and researchers from across the globe. MIC played a vital role in organising those international Tamil conferences. Now it is indeed a big honour for Malaysia that the fourth instalment of the international Tamil conference is coming back to Kuala Lumpur during Anwar’s tenure as PM. Therefore, the PM must get it right for the Tamils by appointing a Tamil – not a Telugu – as a chairman for an International Tamil conference[8].
Velmurugan
Thirumavalavan
The Tamilnadu politicians talked politics with divisive ideology: With all the starting problems, it was started on 21st July 2023 at the University campus. Many Tamilnadu politicians had been invited and their heads, representatives and members attended. However, most of them could be easily identified as rabble risers, as they used to talk on controversial, contentious and divisive issues. Of course, some of them have been known for such speeches. Incidentally, the same thing happened with certain speakers. First, Velmurugan started speaking about linguism, linguistic nationality and linguistic exclusivism tantamount to separatism. In Tamailnadu, it is well-known that the moment DMK came to power, they started using different terminology like Union, Dravidian stock, Dravidian model, “I do not know Hindi” and so on. They straight away carried on attacking the Hindu belief system on one or the other pretext in the name of “Sanatanam.” Their discourses and narratives have always been about this subject, whatever the stage might be.
Marimuthu speaks..
With Thirumavalavan, anti-Hindu rants appeared: Then came, Thirumavalavan and his speech slowly turned towards Hinduism, Sanatana belief etc., and started attacking as usual. Starting with nation, country, linguistic nationality etc., he interpreted that religions like Islam and Christianity have been philosophies and their mosques and churches institutions. They follow equality without any differentiation, whereas, the Hindu religion propagates inequality and the Hindus believe Sanatanam. Thus, the caste system cannot be changed and all cannot be equal. Most of the audience was not satisfied with his interpretation and even his way of talking, as it does not suit with the topic and theme of the conference. In fact, some dozen delegates opposed by shouting expressing their concern. Of course, the organizers came in between and tried to calm them. The Minister also requested to proceed with the deliberations, as they were about conclude on that day. Anyway, Thirumavalavan left the venue and reportedly to Singapore to attend another function. Then, Veeramani came with his lengthy talk. He was given half an hour. Of course, he was also delving into the similar issues and claimed that Periyar said so.
audience..
About research papers and paper presentation: About 500 papers were reportedly received for presentation and the topics covered mostly the Tamil literature. Siddha, Siddha medicine, Children’s literature, women’s issues, Saivism, Vaishnavism, and related topics were covered by the papers presented. Generally, most of the papers had been of “rehashed” types and 20-25 papers had been good and excellent. Most of the papers had been of generalized nature giving details that were known to everybody. The local Malaysian Tamil writers and novelists were honoured. Most of the speakers talked like “stage-speech,” as usual, as most of Tamil people do giving flavour to the words, without any subject matter.
Dravidian politicians….
Academic, study-related, research papers missing: The details about the academic sessions, list of research papers, titles, etc., were not known. The presented papers were not academic, study-related, research essays, with few exceptions. People who went to the conference also posted photos on social media saying “I went to the conference,” but it was not like “I read articles, asked questions, and I answered them”, but it was like “I went on a tour”. A website named Bernam has published some videos about the proceedings. Only the readings of some of them are reported (Saivism, Vaishnavism, Siddha Medicine, Pillaith Tamil, Tholseelai etc.). Some of the articles were good. Otherwise, most of the other research articles were in the same style and rehashing type.
PM ..
23-07-2023 (Sunday) – the PM inaugurated the Conference officially: Speaking when officiating the 11th International Tamil Research Conference at Universiti Malaya (UM), Anwar said the current condition requires a minimum of 15 students for a Tamil language class to be held. Anwar also announced an RM2 million allocation each for the conference, Universiti Malaya’s Department of Indian Studies and another RM2 million for the Education Ministry to relook into the conditions for Tamil education in secondary schools. These allocations, he said, were in honour of the 11th International Tamil Research Conference. Referring to Saravanan and Sivakumar working together as co-chairman of the conference, Anwar said he salutes the Indian community and leaders for taking the lead in building a new ‘Perpaduan Malaysia’, adding that this was also a message to Malay and Chinese leaders that the national vision must surpass all other differences and interests[9]. Jointly organised by the International Association of Tamil Research (IATR), Universiti Malaya and the OMS Foundation, the conference gathered more than 3,000 Tamil scholars and researchers from over 50 countries. Also present were co-chairman of the conference V. Sivakumar, who is also the Human Resource Minister and MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan[10].
Future conferences should be free of politics and politicians: Conference organizers have struggled and done everything satisfactorily in a short span of time. It would have been better had it proceeded academically with Tamil, Tamil research and research ethics. But due to the political mix, the organizers of the conference, the politicians within them, the politicians who were welcomed, everyone has stirred up problems at every level. While speaking, the Prime Minister pointed out that it is good that all the different parties have come together on the stage for the conference. From the beginning to the end, there were political upheavals, problems, scuffles etc. However, the conference ended with everything under control. Henceforth, if politics, politicians, parties etc. are not given importance at the next conferences, then all would be good.
[1] Vedaprakash, 11th World Tamil Conference changed to 11th International Conference Seminar on Tamil Studies held at Chennai from 7th to 9th July, 2023 (1), June 10, 2023.
[3] Vedaprakash, 11th World Tamil Conference changed to 11th International Conference Seminar on Tamil Studies held at Chennai from 7th to 9th July, 2023 (1), June 10, 2023.
[7] Focus – Malaysia, Tamils disappointed as Sivakumar, a Telugu, is appointed International Tamil Conference chairman, By Contributor – Tamil Vaanan, 13/07/2023
Dismissal of Christian activist case by the Supreme Court – How thoroughly it was misconceived to get it dismissed? At the same time, do the Hindutwavadis worry about it or not?
Dismissal of Christian activist case reported in news: The stuff that appears in the print and electronic media has been used to write this narrative and they have been acknowledged in the footnotes as usual. The narrative as appeared has been taken faithfully and comments are added separately. The Supreme Court has dismissed the Petition filed by Dr. M. Deivanayagam, a Christian activist from Tamil Nadu seeking abolition of the practice of Manu Laws and principles of Varashrama[1] on September 2nd 2022. The Bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli termed the petition as ‘thoroughly misconceived'[2]. The journals dealing with Supre Court cases, cryptly reported about this case in a characteristic way. They may not be knowing much about the petitioner, though he has been mentioned as “a Christian activist” adding that he is “from Tamil Nadu.” Anyway, this man gets exposed for his frivolous attempts of filing petitions on his own apprehensive and imaginary grounds with vested “Christian interests.”
Writ petition filed in 2020 and decided on 02-09-2022: In 2020, the writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India by Dr. M. Deivanayagam sought the following directions from the Apex Court[3]:
1. Abolition of the practice of principles of Laws of Manu / Principles of Varashrama as the same leads to discrimination and diversifying the people of India on the basis of Religion, Language, Caste, Sect and etc.
2. Thus, to form a committee to investigate and identify the practice of law of Manu which are prevalent in various forms across India and declare them as unconstitutional.
Further, M.Deivanayagam had filed a Public Interest Litigation before Madras High Court in 2017 to remove atheistic inscriptions below the statues of Thanthai Periyar in Tamil Nadu. Further, the High Court had in 2019 dismissed the same holding that the followers of Thanthai Periyar, in exercise of the rights under Article 19 of the Constitution of India and the same has a right to disagree with the existence of God[4].
“The petition is thoroughly misconceived. The petition shall stand dismissed”: “The petition is thoroughly misconceived. The petition shall stand dismissed”, the Bench said in its order[5]. The Court quoted the prayers of Deivanayagam in its order while dismissing the petition[6]. Deivanayagam appeared in person n 02-09-2022 and argued his petition of the year 2020[7]. Thus, definitely, he must have been trained or advised on how to depose, what to talk and how to respond to the judges in the court. However, who are the legal advisers, how he filed petitions in the Supre Court etc., are not known. That he appeared in person proves that he has the logistics to come over here either by flight or train with all preparations. Moreover, a few months back, it was informed that he was bedridden and not talking with others and so on. However, he released his book with Tirumavalavan. Deivanayagam had filed the petition, invoking the jurisdiction under Article 32 of the Constitution, seeking abolition of the practice of principles of Laws of Manu / Principles of Varashrama on the ground that it led to discrimination and diversification of the people of India on the basis of religion, caste, language, sect etc[8]. The Petitioner also sought directions to the Union of India to form a Committee to investigate and identify the practice of law of Manu which, according to him are prevalent in various forms across India and sought to declare them as unconstitutional[9].
Can Christian activist file a petition against Periyar and hobnob with periyarists?: In 2019, the Madras High Court had dismissed Deivanayagam’s petition seeking the removal of the atheistic inscriptions below the statues of Thanthai Periyar in Tamil Nadu[10]. Incidentally, here, the Periyar had to be defended, as he was unwittingly fighting against Periyarism, analytical wisdom, self-respect and other “Dravidian virtues” reportedly or supposed to be followed by all faithful “Dravidian stock” working and living according to the principles of “Dravidian model.” Here, the moot question arises as to, “Can Christian activist file petition against Periyar and hobnob with periyarists?.” Ironically, he has been moving with such Periyarists and they have been significantly working with each other. More details can be read from here[11].
2017 petition heard and decided in 2019: That the petition W.P. No.28021/2017 was heard two years later and the judges to deliver judgment on 04-09-2019 has been intriguing. None reacted to the judgment or protested to remove any paragraphs from the judgment arguing that they offend their belief or so. Perhaps, most of them are not interested at all. The duo Rajiv Malhothra and Aravinda Neelakantan made much fuss about their favourite duo Deivanayagam and Devakala also keeping quite! Though from 2014 onward, many Hindutwa advocates, lawyers and legal experts have been out, it appears that they do not bother such cases. Of course, they might write in their own websites and journals, read by a hundred or two hundred, applaud and enjoy time otherwise.
“Hindu Religion is the Offshoot of St. Thomas Dravidian Christianity”: Deivanayagam has authored a book titled “Hindu Religion is the Offshoot of St. Thomas Dravidian Christianity” and has made controversial remarks in the past, including that Thiruvalluvar is a baptized Christian of the Church created by St.Thomas. Though, it is mentioned at the tail-end, the learned reporters have not elaborated or got into the facts and details of his bogus attempts with his wonderful and fantastic research on such unhistorical stories and myths. None of these legal forums with all their backing and support have not attempted to take up this issue. The fraudulent research of Acharya Paul, Arulappa connecting Deivanayagam and others has also been linked to a case that was argued in the Madras High Court.
November 2021- Deivanayagam released his book with Thirumavalavan: Viduthalai Chirutaigal Katchi founder and Lok Sabha MP Chidambaram, Thol Thirumavalavan, attended a book-releasing function recently in November 2021 at Chennai. Thirumavalavan spoke, quoting from Deivanayagam’s book. He said he has been researching for several decades, and he concluded that “Thiruvalluvar was a Christian and was baptised, received communion”. He said, “Saivam and Vaisnavism were created by Dravidians, Tamilians. Deivanayagam has written an explanatory note to Thirukural at a new angle”. In that, he said Thiruvalluvar was Christian. Thirumavalavan said Deivanayagam, in his book, claimed that the Kabaleeswar temple was razed to grounds in 1566 by Portuguese forces to build a church which is now called Santhome church. “I fear if the sana tana forces (Sangh Parivar) know this, they will try to pull it down “.
The judgment and its beneficiaries and of course the affected: It is not known as to where the Hindutwa lawyers, advocates and others have gone. Though, they have great lawyers and advocates, forums and legal wings, it is not known whether they are following these cases or not. Thus, in the 2019 case, it is very clear that K. Veeramany and Deivanayagam played dubious play and mischief, just to get publicity through the petition, because, whether it is head or tail, they are the winners and the opponents or the gullible attacked [who always do not know that they are attacked] and the Judges cleverly delivered the judgment giving much publicity to EVR with the English translation that occupies 60% of their judgments. Definitely, both have been the most benefited with the dismissed petition and the judgment. Here, in the 2022 case, now the latter gets the dubious status of appearing in the Supreme Court and fought his case as a great crusader. Gullible Hindus would continue to suffer, but the politicized and political Hindutwavadis enjoy…..
[3] The Daily Guardian, SUPREME COURT: REJECTS PLEA SEEKING ABOLITION OF VARNASHRAMA PRINCIPLES & LAW OF MANU; “MISCONCEIVED., Published 2:28 am IST on September 8, 2022By TDG Network
[7] Indian Law Information, Supreme Court rejected a petition seeking abolition of the practice of Varnashrama principles of Laws of Manu, By Tushar Gulati -September 7, 2022.
Reservation to the converted Dalits / SCs and the communalization of Secular polity in India – Politicization of caste, race and hierarchical systems among the religions (2)
Congress never wanted and BJP definitely does want such religion-based-quota: Major mainstream parties have been wary of disturbing the reservation hive for various reasons. The ruling BJP is ideologically opposed to the proposal, fearing it would incentivise religious conversion. The Congress does not want to stick its neck out to avoid a possible blowback from Dalits on sharing their reservation pie. For, if the quota becomes religion-neutral, there are concerns that Dalit Christians could corner all the benefits like jobs and electoral seats in reserved constituencies since they are better educated and more organised. Only the fringe elements supported by the regional parties that have divisive ideologies continue to support such legal wrangles. And these divisive parties have always been aided and abetted by the Chiristian and Mohammedan groups.
The Christian and Mohammedan groups play double roles: Christianity and Islam claimed, claim and continue to claim that they have been universal religions strictly following the utopian and egalitarian principles treating their believers equally in all aspects and respects. “Though textually, Christianity and Islam are egalitarian, deep caste discrimination within them is no secret, which is why Dalits among them want the SC quota,” thus, argues the columnist. Failing to get political redress, Dalit Christians approached the judiciary. However, their case fell in the Supreme Court earlier for want of empirical evidence. Later, a couple of NGOs filed a new PIL, citing the findings of a clutch of reports to buttress their demand for SC quota to all converts. And a bench led by Justice Chandrachud issued a notice to the Centre, hence the new panel. The committee’s terms of reference include examining the changes in customs, traditions, social status and discrimination of converts compared to their peer groups within the SC quota to get a better fix on the complex, multidimensional issue.
2024 Report would be submitted after the General Elections: However, by the time the panel’s report is submitted, the 2024 Lok Sabha polls would have been over[1]. Coincidentally, liberal judge Chandrachud would have almost completed his tenure as CJI, assuming incumbent U U Lalit recommends him as successor, going by the convention of naming the next in seniority for the top post[2]. That Justice Chandrachud did nudge the Centre to set up the panel is in itself an achievement. But it would be up to the next government and Chandrachud’s successor to pick up the threads and amicably settle the knotty question. Thus, judicial calculations can be made, but, evidently, the Christians have already made it an “international issue,” cleverly suppressing their racial, racist and racialist discriminations, crimes and genocide carried on in different parts of the globe and revealed even today, as happened in Canada in 2022.
The reservation under the Presidential Order 1950 is only for Hindus: The first order under this provision was issued in 1950, and covered only Hindus. Following demands from the Sikh community, an order was issued in 1956, including Sikhs of Dalit origin among the beneficiaries of the SC quota. In 1990, the government acceded to a similar demand from Buddhists of Dalit origin, and the order was revised to state: “No person who professes a religion different from the Hindu, the Sikh or the Buddhist religion shall be deemed to be a member of Scheduled Caste.” It does not. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) website states, “The rights of a person belonging to a Scheduled Tribe are independent of his/her religious faith.” Thus, the ST has been delinked with the religion, because of the age-old factors, issues and complexities[3]. Following the implementation of the Mandal Commission report, several Christian and Muslim communities have found a place in the Central and state lists of OBCs.
Private Bills, Congress government could not do anything till 2014: After 1990, a number of Private Member’s Bills were brought in Parliament for this purpose[4]. In 1996, a government Bill called The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Orders (Amendment) Bill was drafted, but in view of a divergence of opinions, the Bill was not introduced in Parliament[5]. The UPA government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set up two important panels: the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities, popularly known as the Ranganath Misra Commission, in October 2004; and a seven-member high-level committee headed by former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Rajinder Sachar to study the social, economic, and educational condition of Muslims in March 2005. The Sachar Commission Report observed that the social and economic situation of Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians did not improve after conversion.
The Ranganath Misra Commission – reservation for Muslims: The Ranganath Misra Commission, which submitted its report in May 2007, recommended that SC status should be “completely de-linked…from religion and…Scheduled Castes [should be made] fully religion-neutral like…Scheduled Tribes”. The report was tabled in both Houses of Parliament on December 18, 2009, but its recommendation was not accepted in view of inadequate field data and corroboration with the actual situation on the ground. A report by a team of sociologists led by Satish Despande, titled Dalits in the Muslim and Christian Communities — A Status Report on Current Social Scientific Knowledge, said in January 2008 that there was a strong case for extending SC status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims[6]. However, the study, which was commissioned by the National Commission for Minorities, was also not considered reliable due to insufficient data[7]. Generally, these reports appear to have been biased and prepared on the then available selective data and information and thus come to a conclusive recommendation. Thus, if anybody reads the reports carefully, it could appear that they prepared the reports keeping the conclusion in mind.
BJP, RSS opposed to such religion-based quota: In February 2010, the BJP national executive passed a resolution criticising the Misra Commission. It said that the “Commission cannot dictate or thrust its opinion on the Christian Pope or Muslim maulvis…reservation would amount to a formal introduction of a caste system in Islam and Christianity, thus changing the basic tenets of these religions, which is outside the jurisdiction of both Parliament and the judiciary and also contrary to the provisions of the Koran and the Bible.” Back in 1961, the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), the highest decision-making body of the RSS, had said: “If any scheme of separate reservation…of different sects is sought to be envisaged for political purposes, it will prove highly detrimental to national unity…” 1990, in response to Christian demands for reservation on the lines of neo-Buddhists, the ABPS said, “the Constitution makers envisaged these concessions only to remove caste-based discrimination and inequality prevalent in Hindu society…”.
2022 The Supreme Court direction and the Commission formed: Based on the recommendations of the Ranganath Misra Commission, there are some petitions pending before the Supreme Court, seeking reservation benefits for Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin. In the last hearing on August 30, a three-judge Bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul gave the Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta three weeks’ time to present the stand of the Union government on the issue. The next hearing is scheduled for October 11, and the government is likely to formally apprise the court of the notification of the Justice Balakrishnan panel. The politicization of quota, reservation and vote back can easily be noted in the “secular India.” Though, secularism is talked about as buzz word, in practice, only, communalism is followed. Similarly, though caste is opposed and discourses made, it is nurtured and converted into constituencies with vote bank for capturing through caste-based parties and electioneering.
[1] Indian Express, Power play behind panel to study SC quota for converts, Published: 10th October 2022 08:23 AM | Last Updated: 10th October 2022 08:23 AM.
[3] Though, the missionaries, European Companies and armies fought with the tribal people of North-east, North-west and other areas of India, they could not succeed in totally eliminating their deep-rooted past culture, tradition, heritage and civilization. Many times, their roots are traced back to the Indian / Hindu origins only.
[4] Indian Express, Govt appoints panel to look into quotas for Dalit Christians and Muslims, here’s why, Written by Shyamlal Yadav, First published on: 07-10-2022 at 04:39:10 pm; Edited by Explained Desk, New Delhi, Updated: October 8, 2022 10:31:51 am.
Reservation to the converted Dalits / SCs and the communalization of Secular polity in India (1)
Politicization caste, race and hierarchical systems among the religions: The Muslims generally have not been for caste-based quota, but, religion-based quota. However, they have been also manipulating data and information with their vested interests. The Mandal Commission Report and Supreme Court judgement exposed the “Mohammedan type of caste system” existing in Islam, in spite of the tall claims made by them about equity, equality and brotherhood. After the Ranganath Mishra report, they have been emboldened enough to claim both the caste-based quota and religion-based quota. They have been enjoying BC status already. Thus, with the SC and ST, they may dominate the political affairs. As for as the Christians are concerned, they have a perennial problem of race related discrimination coupled with their theological counterparts. However, they have been carrying out propaganda that Christianity has been utopian and egalitarian, but, Islam is not and Hindu religion never. In short, the heirarchial system of caste-type discrimination operating among the Christians and Muslims has been more rigid than the Hindu caste-system.
The Supreme Court asked the stand of the government on the issue of extension of SC quota to the converted: The Supreme Court, on 30-08-2022 Tuesday, asked Centre to provide its current stand on the issue of extending the benefit of reservation available to the Schedule led Caste community to Dalits who have converted to other faiths[1]. The petition in which the order has been passed was filed almost 18 years back[2]. A Bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, A.S. Oka and Vikram Nath directed, after taking up a bunch of petitions that asked for the delinking of caste reservation from the religion. However, the learned Judges must be knowing the existing precedence of law and the earlier judgements on the issue. The Presidential Order, 1950 has been very specific in this regard and context. The petitioners led by NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) had filed the plea for an extension of quota benefits to Dalit Christians in 2004 and the case was last heard in February 2015. In between the court was informed that the government had set up the Ranganath Misra commission to examine the issue.
The Central government appoints a Commission accordingly: The Centre has appointed a three-member Commission to examine the sensitive issue of extending Scheduled Caste (SC) status to all those who have historically suffered discrimination and untouchability, regardless of the religion they now profess[3]. It is a task fraught with difficulty for the panel headed by former Chief Justice of India, K. G. Balakrishnan, as it will have to grapple with both social realities and ideological objections while addressing the core question[4]. The notification said certain groups raised the question of revisiting the existing definition of Scheduled Caste according to the status of people who belonged to religions beyond those permitted by presidential orders[5]. It also said that some groups belonging to the category had objected to the inclusion of new groups. “Given the importance, sensitivity and potential impact, any change in definition in this regard should be on the basis of a detailed and definitive study and extensive consultation with stakeholders,” the notification added.
The Notification asks to verify and report the following points: The document gave the panel a fourfold term of reference[6].
The first is to examine the matter of according SC status to people who claim to have historically been Dalit but converted to faiths other than the ones mentioned in presidential orders.
The second is to examine the implications of any such possible move on existing SC groups.
third is to examine the changes SC people go through on converting to other religions in terms of customs, traditions, social, and other status discrimination and deprivation.
The fourth is to examine any related question, with the consent of the central government..
Who are Hindu SC as per the Presidential Order and Article 25?: India constitutionally mandates 15% reservation for SCs in government jobs and educational institutions. Paragraph (3) of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 says, “…no person who professes a religion different from Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism shall be deemed to be a member of a scheduled caste.” But activists argue that Dalit people within the folds of Islam or Christianity experience caste-based discrimination on account of their birth status, and, therefore, they should be eligible for SC status.” So, now, it is to be noted carefully, how the Commission, Court and the petitioners could come over this legality. Caste connotes something connected with the Hindu religion and therefore, the such caste-related quota is applicable only to Hindus. As the Article 25 of the Constitution specifically include “Jain, Buddhist and Sikhs” under the purview of Hindus, they are also eligible for reservation. In other words, such conversion is taking place within Hindus and among the Hindus.
1985-2022 – Vested interests rake up the issue fully knowing the legal status of the issue: The government itself has described it as a seminal and historically complex sociological and constitutional question. This is not the first time that the issue has come up before the Supreme Court — the panel’s appointment comes in the wake of the Court asking the Centre to clarify its position on the issue — or has been examined by a commission headed by a former Chief Justice. In 1985, the Supreme Court agreed that historical discrimination may continue even after members of the SCs convert to other religions, but did not decide in favour of such converts being given SC status as it felt there was not enough material outlining their condition after conversion. It is to be welcomed that the Balakrishnan Commission has been asked specifically to examine the changes that Dalits go through after conversion in terms of their social status and the discrimination they may face, along with the implications of according them SC status.
The National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities politicized the issue: The National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities, headed by retired Chief Justice Ranganath Mishra, also examined this issue. In its 2007 report, the panel made a categorical recommendation in favour of giving SC status to Dalits belonging to all religions. It found the caste system to be “an all-pervading social phenomenon in India shared by almost all Indian communities”. It stressed the constitutional need to eliminate the religion-based discrimination underlying the present policy of limiting SC status to those professing Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism. While the tenets of religion may not allow discrimination, the ground reality was different, it said. The main counter-views are well-known: discrimination and deprivation being the consequences of the caste-based Hindu social order, SC status should not be extended to those who have converted to Christianity and Islam; and the benefits involved may be seen as an incentive to mass conversion. Another objection is that the share of the reservation pie available to Dalits among Hindus may shrink if new sections are included. There is no ‘creamy layer’ concept for SC reservation, and expanding its scope may be to the disadvantage of the current beneficiaries. The Commission will have to come up with a definitive study of these complex issues.
What the present Commission can do?: By setting up a panel headed by former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan and giving it two years to examine the demand to extend Scheduled Caste status to all Dalit converts, the Centre appears to have sought a judicial pause on the highly controversial issue. The law under the lens is paragraph three of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, which keeps converts out of the ambit of reservation. It was amended twice to open windows for converted Sikhs and Buddhists to get in, but the door remained shut for all others, including Dalit Christians and Muslims. With the existing law of this land and established law and also the legal precedence based on the previous judgments on the issue, can the commission go beyond? Can all these be over-ruled or whether this commission has such over-riding legal powers?
[1] LiveLaw, SC Reservation For Converted Dalits : Supreme Court Asks Centre To Explain Its Stand Within 3 Weeks, Sohini Chowdhury 31 Aug 2022 10:32 AM.
Issues concerning Indian society 