News Tamil Nadu

Banners Derogating Hindu Gods Allegedly Erected By DMK Ally Jawahirullah’s MMK During Protest Against Manipur Violence

July 29, 2023
The Commune

A picture of a banner supposedly erected by an alleged Islamist party Manithaneya Makkal Katchi has surfaced on social media in which Hindu Gods Ram, Lakshman and Sita have been derogated while targeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over Manipur violence.

The banner shows caricatured images of Narendra Modi as Lord Ram and Amit Shah as Lord Lakshman holding bow and arrows standing on either sides of a naked woman (Goddess Sita), hinting at the horrific incident in Manipur in which a woman was paraded naked and sexually assaulted.

“Massive protest against sexual assaults on women in Manipur”, reads the lines in Tamil below.

The banner was supposedly erected by MH Jawahirullah’s party Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) belonging to Batlagundu Town in Dindigul district.

On 21 July 2023, members of the MMK held a protest in Dindigul district condemning the heinous incident in which two women were paraded naked by a mob. It is unclear whether the incendiary banner was erected during this protest.

MMK is an Islamist fundamentalist party in Tamil Nadu headed by M. H. Jawahirullah who is currently an MLA from Papanasam. The MMK is part of the DMK’ “Secular Progressive Alliance”.

Jawahirullah is also the head of another outfit named Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam, which is also purportedly seen by some as an Islamic fundamentalist organization.

Many on social media questioned the DMK government’s inaction on those who erected the anti-Hindu banner.

 

 

 

 

It is noteworthy to mention that the DMK government has been alleged to be going after individuals who criticize the government on social media through posts and memes by slapping non-bailable sections under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) like Sections 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony and 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief). No action seems to have been taken against Jawahirullah’s MMK whose banners warrant action against the above sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The Commune tried to reach out to MMK but no response was received until the article was published. The article will be updated once The Commune receives a response.

Update: Following The Commune’s report on the incident, Jawahirullah apologized on his social media.

He accepted that an unsolicited billboard for this demonstration was put up by a few party members. He claimed that when it came to the knowledge that such an advertisement board had been put up, the ‘top management of the party immediately took action to remove the board. He further claimed that it was removed even before the protest meeting started.

“Manithaneya Makkal Katchi is not a party that works with the intention of hurting members of any religion. Those responsible for this unwelcome banner were severely reprimanded. The party has taken disciplinary action against them. I’m sorry if anyone’s feelings were hurt by this banner.”, Jawahirullah said.

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