BJP Tamil Nadu Youth Wing President SG Suryah has strongly condemned an alleged assault on him and BJP youth wing members at a private television channel office in Chennai, accusing DMK cadres of resorting to violence after being unable to counter arguments during a televised debate.
In a post on X, Suryah stated that the incident took place at a private television studio in Egmore, immediately after the conclusion of a debate. He alleged that the attack occurred in the presence of DMK Member of Parliament Thanga Tamilselvan and police personnel, which he described as a serious breakdown of law and order.
According to Suryah, he and more than 20 BJP youth wing office-bearers who attempted to protect him were subjected to what he termed a “murderous assault” by DMK-linked individuals. He further alleged that the attackers openly informed the police of their intention to disconnect the power supply for ten minutes before carrying out the attack. He claimed that the power was subsequently cut, following which the assault took place as threatened.
Suryah accused the police of acting in complete connivance with the attackers and alleged that the incident amounted to an attack on freedom of expression. He stated that the DMK’s alleged practice of engaging in politics through intimidation and violence posed a threat to democratic norms.
He also demanded accountability from the DMK government for the injuries sustained by BJP youth wing members during the incident, stating that the government must answer for the bloodshed caused in the attack.
Dravidianist YouTuber SenthilVel Instigates Crowd
This was reportedly instigated by Dravidianist YouTuber Senthil Vel. He shared a video complaining about what happened inside the studio and allegedly instigated the cadres present and said that he align with them were waiting to teach the BJP people a lesson.
In the video, he says, “Today in Chennai, a recording was held for News18 Tamil Nadu’s “Makkal Sabhai” as a special Pongal programme. I was informed that in this programme, Mr. Thangatamilchelvan, Mr. Nanjil Sampath, our beloved young leader Itumbavanam Karthi from Naam Tamilar Katchi, and from the Bharatiya Janata Party, SG Suryah and others would be participating. As planned, the programme began very well. But what was the problem, you may ask. In every such “people’s forum” or “Makkal Sabhai” type programme these days, some BJP members and, as a sort of replica of the BJP, the TVK goons from elsewhere, about ten of them, come and stand there, shout that they have the courage to take on Dravidian movement comrades, scream, and in abusive words behave in a rowdy manner, making a habit of preventing Dravidian views from reaching the people.”
He adds, “Because of various work commitments, when Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam comrades and Dravidian movement comrades come to this hall, they end up having to stand outside without space inside. In today’s Pongal special programme you can see that hundreds of DMK comrades have been pushed to stand outside for many hours without space inside. Chairs and benches have been placed outside, and they are quietly watching the show from there. When a situation arose where there were practically no DMK comrades inside, and I started to speak, even before I could begin my first word of greeting, even before I could say “vanakkam”, the BJP’s goon group, that anarchic group, started behaving in a very indecent manner. As one group they began to mock me and abuse me. With great patience I kept trying again and again to speak to the content, to the point.”
He further said, “Comrades who regularly see me on television know this: I am someone who speaks with great dignity; I never speak in the singular “nee” to anyone, I do not speak disrespectfully, I never speak without evidence, I never speak without data. When I began to place my arguments with data, as someone who respects members of other parties as well, and when I began to put forward my argument with data, some goons belonging to the BJP started shouting from inside using very filthy words. They thought, “Today he has come alone, there is no DMK person inside.” When I tried to speak in spite of that, they kept continuously disrupting my speech. I then said, “I no longer wish to be in this assembly; when I am being abused in the singular, I do not want to remain in this hall that lacks dignity,” and with great patience and mental anguish I walked out. When we join a debate, we must definitely be allowed to speak; that is the norm. I expressed my regret to that television channel. I have conveyed my regret to News18 Tamil Nadu and its team. I do not have any grievance against them because there was simply no space there. But the point is this: such people must be taught a lesson.”
He further said, “What do they think? Earlier, when comrade Thangai Mathivathani came, they did the same slogans, spoke abusively. Every time Dravidian movement comrades and DMK comrades come to speak, they have adopted a strategy of shouting, yelling, and using that to derail and spoil the show.”
Then he started instigating the people around him. He said, “Today, in order to teach them a lesson, I came outside. When I came out and saw, among the crores of Kalaignar’s kin, there were hundreds of “Thalaivar’s” kin standing outside shouting “Vazhga! Vazhga! Vazhga!” “Let Periyar’s fame rise! Let Kalaignar’s fame rise! Let Kalaignar’s fame rise! Long live beloved Thalapathy! Long live beloved Thalapathy! Long live beloved Thalapathy!”
He further said, “O commanders of the war brigade of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The senior DMK functionaries of this area unit, the devoted brothers of Anna Sekar Babu are here in their hundreds standing outside; I did not know that. I did not know that hundreds of them were standing outside. In the midst of these BJP men who behaved without dignity, what is the use of placing an intellectual argument? There is a verse in the scriptures: “Do not cast pearls before something that does not value them.” Likewise, I realised that whatever argument I place in this BJP crowd inside this hall, they are not going to let me speak, and I walked out. When I came outside, there were hundreds of brothers standing here. Now we are waiting. Who are we waiting for? Inside, as soon as ten of them got together and shouted, they showed their so‑called bravery; that bravery they must show outside now. We are not going to indulge in any rowdy behaviour or arrogance. We are going to stand properly in an orderly manner, raise our slogans and show our strength. So that in future, whenever a DMK comrade or a Dravidian movement thinker speaks, even if there is not a single DMK member inside the hall, they must quietly listen to what he says and should not disrupt him.”
He continued instigating, “To teach them that lesson, we are waiting outside. All these people you see here are not those who came after the problem erupted. They are comrades who have been waiting here for many hours, from just a few minutes after the programme began. Because there was no space inside, they stayed outside. We are saying: let the BJP people come out after the programme ends. We will raise our slogans in front of them in a peaceful manner and then disperse. We do not intend to behave in a way that causes inconvenience to ordinary people. We are asking them to come out. When they come, we will raise our slogans and then we will leave. From here on, whether it is BJP men or KVK people, when such programmes are held, if you bring ten people, wrap a towel on your shoulder and in that arrogance shout us down, then for the consequences that follow, we will not be responsible.”
Source: Tamil Janam
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