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DMK & Dravidianists’ Track Record Of Hate Speech That India Hate Lab Won’t Document (Willingly?)

October 30, 2024
The Commune

India Hate Lab, a pro-Dravidian platform, has launched scathing accusations against actor Vijay for allegedly promoting “hate speech” against Tamil Nadu’s DMK government, following his fiery critique of its policies. The platform, originating in the US, alleged that Vijay’s remarks foster division while it conveniently ignored hate speeches made by DMK members.

Vijay Criticizes DMK

Vijay’s maiden conference on 27 October 2024, held for his political launch, seems to have disturbed the Dravidianists quite a bit. During his speech, Vijay made a statement targeting the fascist policies of the ruling DMK government.

The actor-turned-politician had said, “There is a crowd here that for some time has been singing the same paeans. Anybody who comes into politics is given ‘one particular colour’. They keep fearmongering people and cheat them. But ‘these people’ (indirect reference to DMK) will put underground dealing with ‘them’ (indirect reference to BJP). During elections, they will give statements and give sounds. For them, it’s always ‘fascism’, ‘fascism’, ‘fascism’. Among the people who are united here, they fearmonger by splitting people as majority-minority and keep putting a full-time scene with it.

I’m asking you – If ‘they’re fascism’, are you ‘payasam’? You’re no better than them. You call this anti-people government a ‘Dravida Model’ government and cheating people.” Vijay literally blasted the DMK with that comparison.

This comparison seems to have sent jitters down the Dravidian supporters’ spines. Following this, Dravidianist handles such as Dravidian Insights shared infographics mapping “hate speech” across the country. Ironically, he shared data from The Quint and the source of the data was “India Hate Lab”.

The map showed more instances of hate speech in BJP-ruled states compared to others – very groundbreaking research! He claimed that the non-BJP-ruled states were more civilized and stated, “That “Payasam” against real fascism“

It is noteworthy that organizations like India Hate Lab, are based out of Washington DC (as indicated on its X profile). Raqib Hameed Naik, an Indian journalist, founded India Hate Lab. According to WIRED, the site documents “instances of hate speech and conspiracies that target India’s minority communities.” One wonders how they can trust such data if it is going to be focused only on “minority communities” – aren’t majority communities also subject to hate speech – in fact to a larger extent?

Let’s take a look at the hate speech in Payasam DMK-run Tamil Nadu – hate speeches made by members of the DMK itself.

Even A Dog Gets BA Degree

In July 2024, senior DMK leader RS Bharathi sparked controversy by claiming that even a dog could earn a BA degree today, attributing this to the Dravidian movement’s impact on education. Speaking at a protest against NEET in Tamil Nadu, he criticized the exam and highlighted the movement’s role in expanding access to education.

RS Bharathi said, “I am a lawyer B.L. educated. Ezhilarasan BE, BL. All these did not come from a clan or gotra. If it was not for the alms of the Dravidian movement and communal GO, so many doctors and so many people with B.E degrees would not have come. When I studied BA, only one person in the town had studied BA. Then they will write the title on the name board outside the house. Now everyone in the town is studying for a degree, even a dog is getting a BA degree. Dravidian movement is responsible for this development.”

Alms Given By Dravidian Movement That Dalits Became Judges

In May 2020, Bharathi was apprehended by the Central Crime Branch of the Chennai city police following accusations of making provocative remarks during a party gathering held in February of that year. Referring to a judge, he reportedly said that many Dalits were inducted into the judiciary because of the indulgence of the DMK leadership during former chief minister M Karunanidhi’s tenure. Speaking at an event in Anbagam (the DMK youth wing headquarters), in February 2020, he said “If Tamil Nadu remains the best state, it is because of the Dravidian movement. No Harijan has become a judge of the High Court in Madhya Pradesh. After Karunanidhi became Chief Minister A Varadarajan was appointed as HC judge. Seven or eight others from the Adi Dravidar community went on to become judges after that. It is the alms (picchai) given by the Dravidian Movement”. He later issued an apology for his remarks.

Nagas Eat Dog-Meat

In another instance, RS Bharathi made racist and derogatory comments about the people of Nagaland. Speaking at an event commemorating the 100th anniversary celebrations of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK patriarch Karunanidhi, Bharathi said, “What is the governor doing? He just wants to create problems for the ruling government. We have seen so many governors, but what this governor does is create a fuss and drag us into a fight. He refuses to sign the bills we send. I addressed a gathering about what happened to him in Nagaland; they chased him away. Don’t mistake me; I am just quoting an example. The people of Nagaland eat dog meat. If someone who eats dog meat themselves has so much self-respect that they chased away this governor, then imagine how much self-respect Tamils, who consume food with salt, would have. The day he was chased away, the people of Nagaland celebrated it like Deepavali.”

North Indians Are Fools

On another instance at a meeting (in an undated video), Bharathi ridiculing north Indian labourers said, “The reason why Tamil Nadu is the best state in India is because of the DMK. The people in the other states are fools, they have no brains, these north Indians, I am saying this openly.”

Governor Also Like Bihari Panipuri Sellers

In January 2023, at a public meeting, he compared the Governor to a migrant worker from Bihar and said that he would not have left without being beaten had Jayalalitha been alive. “I had earlier stated that those who sell Soan papdi and Panipuri don`t know the pride of Tamil Nadu. I said this in a meeting. I came to know that many have come from Bihar and I think the Governor (RN Ravi) has similarly come by train,”. 

Hindi Speakers Clean Toilets

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran is no less in comparison to RS Bharathi when it comes to derogating Hindi speakers. During a public address, the DMK MP stated that people who learn Hindi end up as construction workers and toilet cleaners in Tamil Nadu, while Tamilians who are not proficient in Hindi occupy high-ranking positions in the IT sector.

He said, “We asked you to study Tamil and English. You studied. Look at Sundar Pichai, he is now the CEO of Google. He would have been a construction worker if he had studied Hindi. Our children hold high-level positions in IT firms and earn a good living. Look at those who studied Hindi. They work as construction workers and clean toilets.”

North Indians Are Fools

During another public meeting, he referred to North Indians and Hindi-speaking individuals as ‘fools’ who would support the BJP in the elections.

Are We Depressed Class People?

He also made derogatory casteist remarks during his visit to the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary’s office in 2020 where he met reporters after the meeting. Dayanidhi Maran said “Engalai moondram thara makkal pol nadathinaargal. Naangal enna thaazhthapatta aatkala?”(They treated us like third-class people. What are we? Depressed class people?)”

You Are A Shudra

A. Raja in September 2022 had said “You’re a Shudra till you remain a Hindu. You’re a son of the prostitute till you remain a Shudra. You’re a Panchaman (Dalit) till you remain a Hindu. You’re an untouchable till you remain a Hindu. How many of you wish to stay as children of prostitutes? How many of you wish to remain untouchable? Only if we’re vocal about these questions, it will become elemental in breaking Santhana (Sanatana Dharma)”

Arunthathiyar Indulge In Manual Scavenging

During a DMK party’s booth-level agents meeting in August 2023, the former central minister allegedly made disparaging remarks about the Arundathiyar community. He was quoted as saying, “Though Arunthathiyar community, who indulge in manual scavenging cleaning human excreta, is a minority community in that region who are not numerically strong as far as votes are concerned, Karunanidhi granted them 3% reservation. This does not mean I am belittling them.”

Yogi Adityanath Is A Pandaram, Paradesi

In April 2023, abusing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, A Raja called him a “Pandaram, Paradesi”. “Do you know how many people are Below Poverty Line, in Uttar Pradesh, where you’ve built a temple for Ramar? You’ve built a Ram Temple there. A ‘Pandaaram’, ‘Paradesi’ is a Chief Minister there.”, the DMK leader abused the UP CM. Pandaaram is a most backward community (MBC) in Tamil Nadu whose members were once priests of non-Agama temples. However, the term has over the years become a slur. Paradesi literally means a person from another country, but it has also become a slur. “Uttar Pradesh, where you have a ‘Pandaram’, ‘Paradesi’ as a Chief Minister and a Ram temple built, the number of people below the poverty line is 27%.”, he said.

Are You A Gowda?

In the same speech, A Raja who claimed that casteists are inventing new ways to determine caste should be shown a video of MK Stalin in which he determined the caste of an old man to be ‘Gowda’ as soon as he stated that he was from Hosur.

Throw That Dog Out

In 2020, DMK MP from Nilgiris and former Union Minister A. Raja in a public meeting, lambasted a fellow party volunteer and called him a ‘dog’ for raising slogans in the middle of his speech. Raja was addressing a public meeting in Perambalur organized against the Farm Bills that were passed then by the Parliament. A man from the crowd was heard shouting “Long live brother Raja!” to which Raja blurted out at the man and called him to be thrown out. “Yarra avan? Veliya thooki podu da avana! Andha naai a velila thooki podu!” (Who is that fellow? Throw him out! Throw that dog out!), Mr. Raja burst out in the middle of the speech and later continued with it.

EPS Would Be Doing Labour, Vanathi Picking Coconuts, Annamalai Rearing Goats

In February 2023 while campaigning for the Erode by-polls, speaking at Periyar Nagar in Erode, the DMK MP said “They say that Edappadi Palaniswami has studied till BA. Vanathi Srinivasan has studied law. Annamalai became IPS. That pen (Karunanidhi’s pen) put you under the Backward Class category and made you study. If not for that pen, Annamalai would’ve reared goats. Edappadi Palaniswami would be doing labour. Vanathi Srinivasan would be picking coconuts in some coconut farm.”

You Are Also Like A Parayan

In an undated video, Duraimurugan narrates an incident when EV Ramasamy, the Dravidian ideologue asked him about his caste. Upon hearing the caste name, EVR said, “You are also like Parayan. Don’t think too much of yourself for being a Vanniyar.”

In another video, VCK’s Vanni Arasu says, “Like how you say don’t walk in the common streets or bathe in the common ponds, denying us a ticket to the general constituency is on the same lines. Kalaignar said this.”

You Are An SC, Right?

In an undated public meeting, DMK Minister Ponmudi is seen introducing a lady and says, “This lady is from an oppressed community, you are an SC, right?”

Ambattan Kadai

In an undated video, probably from during the Covid-19 pandemic, the former Tamil Nadu Finance Minister is seen referring to a barber shop by caste name – he uses the word, “Ambattan kadai” to describe it.

In an undated video, DMK leader KKSSR Ramachandran is seen saying, “We would have gone professionally, but since TN has so many Reddiyars, we came up with a GO. Both the GOs were made by me. Kalaignar made that GO. If in Tamil Nadu, you are getting a BC certificate, it is because of this. We can even get OBC as mentioned. Politics will come and go, it is not permanent. But if someone wants to do something courageously for this community, it can happen only when me and Nehru are the ministers. No one else can do it bravely.”

Gomiyum Gang

DMK Minister TRB Rajaa also has a history of spewing hate. He regularly refers to those who support BJP and oppose the DMK as “Gomiyum Gang” meaning “Cow Urine Gang”, an apparent dig at their Hindu identity. There are many tweets in which he keeps throwing the cow piss jibe at his political opponents.

 

Vadakkan

DMK MLA TRB Rajaa had spewed venom against north Indians umpteen number of times. He had once said ‘Vadakkans’ (slur for North Indian) don’t have a sense of democracy adding that Biharis will remain at the bottom because of their voting choices.

Hate Against Brahmins

In 2023, the DMK’s IT wing, led by TRB Rajaa, shared a comic strip targeting Tamil Brahmins, featuring casteist stereotypes and inflammatory dialogue. The comic, part of the series “Dravidathaal Vaazhgirom,” portrays Brahmins as scheming against non-Brahmins and indulging in divisive practices. Such fictional depictions of Brahmins were only seen to be conspiring to weaken non-Brahmin unity. The post was criticized as anti-Brahmin propaganda aimed at appealing to the DMK’s traditional vote bank among wealthy, non-Brahmin castes.

Hate Against Hindi Speakers

Dravidianists in Tamil Nadu, including members of the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), have several times incited hostility toward North Indian migrants, often using derogatory language and fostering regional divisions. NTK leader Seeman, known for his aggressive stance on Tamil nationalism, once even threatened to chase out Hindi-speaking migrants, stating they would “pack their bags in just one week.”

There have also been multiple violent incidents, such as verbal and physical abuse on a moving train, the murder of a migrant worker mistaken for a thief, and altercations in workplaces and colleges.

Slurs Against North Indians

Slurs like ‘Vadakkan’, ‘Paani Puri wala’ ‘Panparag vaayan’ have been normalised through social media. A popular YouTube channel named Paridhabangal, led by Gopi and Sudhakar, released a video attempting to portray North Indians in a negative light through their jokes and videos.

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