News Tamil Nadu

“What’s The Connection Between Us And Kargil War?” DMK MP Raja Claims Karunanidhi Donated ₹100 Cr Towards Kargil Relief Fund, Here’s The Truth

March 10, 2025
The Commune

DMK MP A Raja who is known to make caustic and derogatory remarks all the time has done it once again. Under the guise of praising the “humane” nature of Dravidianism, he made over the top claims while slyly making separatist remarks as well.

Speaking at the Chief Minister’s birthday celebration public meeting held in Taramani, Chennai, on 8 March 2025, A Raja made misleading and factually incorrect statements about Tamil Nadu’s contributions to the Kargil War.

He said, “What is the connection between us and Kargil war? Is the one born in Kargil, a Tamilian? Did the person who studied in Kargil study Thirukkural? What is his connection with the Tamil we love? Has he read the literature of Sangam era? The Tamil people in Eelam know us, I raise my voice for Eelam. I speak for Eelam. I will do anything for Eelam. That means it is blood relation, umbilical cord relation. But who is the person living in Kashmir? By religion, he is Muslim, by country he’s a Kashmiri. The language he speaks has nothing to do with me. In fact, Kannada too; They said, “O Mother Tamil, you have risen from your ashes.” Telugu is my language, a “pangali” (relative) language. Malayalam is also my language. The language of the Malayalam is not even that language. It is not even a partner. He is an opposite. He is somewhere else. But the person who died there does not matter what language he speaks, nor does it matter what religion he belongs to. The person who dies is a human being, the person who is affected is a human being, the one who saves humanity is Dravidam – so Kalaignar sent ₹100 crores to them, to Vajpayee. Which other Chief Minister gave? He gave ₹100 crore, we gave ₹6 crores in 1971, ₹100 crores in 1999, just for the sake that this country should be prosperous.”

Raja claims Karunanidhi donated 100 crores. While there are no official records on the amount donated towards the Kargil Fund, Chief Minister MK Stalin himself has stated, “During the Indo-Pak war in 1971, former chief minister M Karunanidhi donated ₹6 crore to the Indira Gandhi-led govt. Other states together donated ₹25 crore. During the Kargil war, we gave ₹50 crore, in three installments, to then Prime Minister (Atal Behari) Vajpayee.”

It is important to note that the then Chief Minister Karunanidhi did not donate the money from his personal funds. Tamil Nadu emerged as the largest contributor to the Kargil Relief Fund through public donations and fundraisers organized by its people.

While the people of Tamil Nadu have always shown immense patriotism and generosity in contributing to national causes, it is incorrect to attribute these contributions solely to the DMK, Dravidian ideology, or Karunanidhi personally. The credit belongs to the collective spirit of the state’s citizens.

However, during his speech, DMK MP A. Raja made divisive and problematic statements, questioning the connection between Tamils and Kashmiris. He asked rhetorically whether those in Kargil had studied the Thirukkural and went so far as to claim that Kashmiri Muslims belonged to the “country of Kashmir”—a statement that echoes secessionist rhetoric.

Raja’s assertion that Sri Lankan Tamils are closer to Tamils in Tamil Nadu than Kashmiris further reveals a Dravidianist mindset that leans toward separatism. Such statements not only undermine national unity but also distort the inclusive and patriotic spirit of the people of Tamil Nadu, who have consistently stood by the nation in times of need.

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