Police and revenue department officials are investigating the recovery of more than 50 stone idols from the Cooum River at Pinjivakkam village in Tiruvallur district. The incident occurred within the limits of the Kadambathur police station, where an overbridge and a check dam are located across the river.
According to officials, the discovery was made on Tuesday morning when a local resident, Munusamy, who had gone to the riverbank to attend to nature’s call, noticed what appeared to be an idol visible in the water. Upon approaching closer and confirming it was indeed an idol, he informed his relatives and other villagers.
Following this, local residents and youth gathered at the spot and retrieved more than 50 stone idols from the river. The idols, each approximately one foot in height, include representations of Murugan, Vinayagar, Amman, Nagam, Ayyappan, and other deities. The recovered idols were placed on the riverbank, while villagers continued searching the river to check if more idols were present.
Based on the information received, police and revenue department officials reached the location and began examining the idols. Officials said that since the idols were found beneath the overbridge and near the check dam, it was unlikely that they had been washed down from the dam. They are investigating whether the idols were deliberately thrown into the river from the overbridge or whether idols that had been buried in the riverbed surfaced due to water flow.
Police and revenue officials are also examining the idols to determine their age and the period to which they belong. The recovery of more than 50 idols from the Cooum River has caused surprise and concern among local residents, while investigations into the circumstances surrounding their presence in the river are ongoing.
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With the Kerala Assembly elections approaching, the Bharatiya Janata Party has sharpened its focus on what it calls the systematic decline of the Hindu community in Kerala, accusing decades of Congress–Left rule of burying uncomfortable realities under the banner of “secularism.”
Leading the charge, BJP Kerala chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the condition of Hindus in the state over the last two decades must be openly discussed, insisting that facts, not ideology, should drive the conversation.
“What I wish to say today is this – The Congress party, which is trying to bring Jamaat into the mainstream politics of this land and the CPM, which has done politics alongside Jamaat until now, the people will not support them in this election and our request is that they should not support them.”
Chandrasekhar argued that while Kerala speaks endlessly about progress and inclusivity, the material and social condition of the Hindu majority has steadily worsened, even as political parties court Islamist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami for electoral gains.
“Over the last 20 years, I have the facts and figures with me. The condition of the majority Hindu community here, where it started and where it has gone – this needs to be discussed. When I say this, do not label me as communalist. I am stating facts.”
Making a direct economic claim, he said, “Hindus are today the poorest community in Kerala, facts are there for that. Which community has the lowest per capita land ownership – it is the Hindu community. So all this must be discussed.”
There must be an honest debate about the silent decline of the Hindu community in Kerala over the last two decades under Congress–CPM rule.
The facts are uncomfortable, but undeniable
🚨Hindus are today the poorest community in Kerala
🚨 Hindus have the lowest per capita land… pic.twitter.com/XF9tKH9wG7
The BJP leader accused the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) of masking these realities through what he termed “fake secularism,” while prioritising appeasement politics over equity and dignity for Hindus.
“This election is not only about their corruption, malgovernance, unemployment and inflation. It is also about their appeasement politics and resulting injustice, lack of dignity, inequity for all other Malayalees.”
Chandrasekhar said the BJP and the NDA would ensure that the question of Hindu decline in Kerala is no longer pushed under the carpet, asserting that development, investment, entrepreneurship, and opportunities for the next generation cannot coexist with the mainstreaming of extremist ideologies.
“The BJP/NDA will ensure this conversation is conducted and truth is told.”
By placing the Hindu question at the centre of the electoral narrative, the BJP has signalled that the Kerala election will not just be a referendum on governance, but also on what it calls the long-ignored socio-economic erosion of the state’s majority community.
About a month ago, the DMK government went over and above to prevent Hindus from lighting the Karthigai deepam at the Deepathoon as per tradition. And despite two court orders, they refused to permit Hindus do their rituals. Now, the Maha Kumbha Mela at Thirunavaya in Kerala is causing them an itch.
Police have denied permission for the Maha Kumbh Mela ratha yatra that was scheduled to begin on Sunday, 18 January 2026, from the Amanalingeswarar Temple at Thirumoorthy Hills in Tiruppur district, triggering sharp criticism from organisers, who accused the ruling DMK government of deliberately obstructing Hindu spiritual movements.
The ratha yatra was planned as part of the preparations for the Maha Kumbh Mela scheduled to be held at Thirunavaya in Kerala from 18 January to 3 February 2026. According to organisers, the procession was to pass through Tiruppur, Udumalpet, Pollachi, Coimbatore and Ettimadai before entering Kerala. The event is being organised by the Juna Akhada, one of the prominent ascetic orders traditionally associated with organising the Kumbh Mela in North India.
The inauguration ceremony of the yatra was originally scheduled for 7 AM at the Amanalingeswarar Temple. However, following the police refusal to grant permission, organisers postponed the ceremony to 9 AM. They said that after the performance of the rituals, a final decision would be taken on how to proceed, even as police personnel were deployed near the chariot and security arrangements were put in place in the area.
Speaking on the denial of permission, one of the organisers said that stopping the ratha yatra was a “wrong and dangerous precedent,” pointing out that Kumbh Mela-related processions have been taking place at Thirunavaya for over two centuries. He said spiritual journeys create a positive awakening among people and warned that suppressing religious expression has historically led to extremism in societies where faith was systematically targeted.
The organiser further accused the present DMK government of being more hostile to Hindu religious activity than even previous administrations. He pointed out that several yatras, including those led by senior BJP leader LK Advani, were conducted during the tenure of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi but alleged that the current government under Chief Minister MK Stalin was acting on “misleading and poor inputs” to block spiritual journeys.
“They first did this at Thirupparankundram, and now they have done it here,” he said, rejecting the police claim that the procession was stopped due to potential inconvenience to the public. “There is no massive chariot. It is only a small vehicle carrying a Sri Chakra. This is not about public inconvenience; this is about a mindset to suppress Hindus while appeasing minorities,” he alleged.
On the future course of action, the organisers said they were considering approaching the court to obtain permission and conduct the ratha yatra legally. They stressed that they would not resort to unlawful methods and would act only through constitutional and legal means. For the moment, they said, the chariot may be taken back to Kerala with police coordination.
Expressing deep regret over the cancellation, the organisers said the ratha yatra could not proceed in Tamil Nadu solely due to what they described as the DMK government’s “intent to suppress Hindu religious expression.” They added that a final decision on the continuation of the yatra would be announced after internal discussions.
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Fresh developments in the Karur stampede case indicate that actor-politician Vijay may be named in the charge sheet, based on the findings of the ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation probe. While Vijay’s name does not figure in the original FIR, reports say the CBI is actively considering his inclusion following detailed questioning and a comparison of his statements with those of other witnesses.
During the latest round of interrogation, CBI officials reportedly confronted Vijay with a series of pointed questions that go to the heart of responsibility and decision-making on the day of the tragedy. Investigators asked why he arrived late at the venue, whether he was aware that disturbances and crowding were already unfolding below, and what concrete steps he took to avert danger. He was also questioned on why his vehicle was driven into the venue despite an overwhelming crowd, when he first realised there was a stampede risk, whether he knew trouble was brewing below the stage, and why he proceeded inside despite police advising against it.
Reports said the agency made it clear that Vijay’s answers to these questions would be crucial in determining whether his name is included in the charge sheet. The CBI is reportedly cross verifying his responses with statements earlier recorded from other party functionaries, looking for contradictions and inconsistencies.
Vijay was earlier questioned last week for nearly seven hours at the CBI headquarters in New Delhi as part of the investigation. During that session, he was reportedly given around 100 questions, initially in a checklist format, followed by a detailed cross-examination conducted in English. After a break for meals, the cross-examination resumed, with Vijay continuing to respond in English throughout.
Among the key questions put to him were why he continued speaking despite the crowd swelling beyond control, whether he followed police instructions at the venue, whether he rejected certain inputs given by the police, the time period for which he was permitted to speak, and the actual duration of his speech. According to reports, Vijay repeatedly sought to place the blame on the Tamil Nadu government, alleging that adequate security was not provided, the crowd was not controlled, and sufficient police protection was not ensured for the public.
The agency is said to be following strict and confidential investigation protocols in the case. A small team of trusted senior officers has reportedly been assigned, with access to files and internal deliberations tightly restricted to prevent leaks. Physical files are sealed and stored securely, while digital records are kept on isolated computer systems. All evidence including documents, call records, financial data, and CCTV footage is being analysed together to identify links and discrepancies. Witnesses are being examined in a planned sequence to ensure earlier statements are not influenced by later testimonies.
Reports also said that Vijay is being questioned alone in a secure room, as part of the CBI’s standard confidential interrogation method. The stated objectives of this approach include preventing destruction of evidence, protecting witnesses, avoiding political or media pressure, and building a strong, court-proof case.
Contrary to claims by some that the case would lose momentum after being handed over to the CBI, political sources say the agency has adopted an unusually firm approach. The investigation, they said, is being pursued with the same seriousness seen in high-profile cases that have shaken the country.
This has reportedly unsettled Vijay’s camp. Reports claim that Vijay has privately complained to close relatives and friends that the Tamil Nadu government could have continued the Karur probe on its own, that the Delhi-based investigation is proceeding in a very different manner, and that he has been unnecessarily dragged into the case.
The CBI is investigating the September 27 stampede at Velusamipuram in Karur, which occurred during a campaign meeting of Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, and claimed 41 lives, including women and children. In the first phase, the agency questioned over 200 people, including party functionaries, police officers, ambulance drivers, and vehicle owners. Subsequently, key TVK functionaries N Anand, Nirmal Kumar, and Aadhav Arjuna, along with senior police officials, were summoned to Delhi for questioning.
Vijay appeared before the CBI for the first round of questioning on 12 January 2026, where he was examined for over six hours. After seeking time citing the Pongal festival, he was summoned again for a second round.
Reports now indicate that the CBI is preparing to file the charge sheet in the first or second week of February, and that Vijay’s inclusion in the case is increasingly likely as the probe intensifies.
In the aftermath of the September 27 Karur stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s rally, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam scrambled to control the narrative as news of children being killed and injured began to spread late into the night. Senior DMK leaders rushed to Karur, including Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, who visited the Karur Government Medical College and Hospital.
Videos from the hospital quickly went viral, showing the minister allegedly breaking down in tears before the bodies of deceased children. The minister was heard saying that organisers had been repeatedly told to follow the conditions, a statement that critics say appeared to shift responsibility away from the administration and onto unnamed organisers, even as families mourned their dead. He had said, “They repeatedly told them to follow the conditions” (Padichu padichu sonnanga conditions ah follow pannunga da nu). Hope it stops at 36.”
This clip of DMK Minister Anbil Mahesh crying became viral and meme-worthy content as his behaviour was being called out by netizens as ‘drama’ and ‘good acting’.
Against this backdrop of performative grief and unanswered questions, the trailer of the film Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimayil starring actor Jiiva had featured this dialogue in a comical way.
Now in a separate video actor Jiiva from the launch of his film Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil has gone viral. In the clip, Jiiva is heard delivering a dialogue that says, “Naan thirumba thirumba sonnene conditions ah follow pannunga nu. Kettangala?” (“Didn’t I repeatedly tell you to follow the conditions? Did you listen?”).
கொஞ்சம் கூட மனிதாபிமானமற்ற ஜீவா.
TTT படத்தில் இந்த வசனத்தை பார்க்கும்போது சரியாக புரியவில்லை. படம் முடிந்துவிட்டது என்ற எண்ணி எந்திரித்து வரும் பொழுது வந்து வசனம்.
While officially a dialogue from the film, the resemblance to Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi’s now-infamous remark at the Karur hospital was impossible to miss. Netizens were quick to draw parallels, interpreting the dialogue as an unintentional or perhaps perfectly timed trolling of the DMK’s blame-shifting emotional theatrics.
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Rameswaram witnessed tension on 16 January 2026 after local residents protested against a group of Christian preachers who were allegedly proselytising near a temple linked to the Ramanathaswamy Temple.
According to reports, around ten Christian preachers were distributing pamphlets and preaching near the Bhadrakali Amman temple, which falls under the Ramanathaswamy Temple administration, in Rameswaram of Ramanathapuram. Local residents objected to the activity and staged a protest at the spot.
Following the protest, the preachers reportedly moved a short distance away. However, they resumed preaching and continued distributing leaflets, including to Ayyappa devotees in the area, leading to a fresh argument with local people.
Town police arrived at the scene, held talks with both sides, and pacified the situation. The police subsequently asked the preachers to leave the area, restoring normalcy.
Let’s protect the dignity of the holy site!
More than 50 people from Chennai, who were engaged in religious conversion propaganda using loudspeakers near the Rameswaram temple, were stopped by Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) members.
Bharathi Kannan, administrator of the Bharatiya Janata Party Tiruppur South District Youth Wing’s social media division, was reportedly arrested by the Tamil Nadu police in Tiruppur without following due legal procedure. His brother, Lingeshwaran Maruthi, who was with him at the time of the arrest, was assaulted, had his shirt torn, and was subjected to physical intimidation during the police action.
பா.ஜ.க இளைஞரணி சமூக ஊடகப் பிரிவு மாநில குழு உறுப்பினர் திரு.பாரதி கண்ணன் அவர்களை திமுக அரசின் காவல்துறை அத்துமீறி கைது செய்திருப்பதை வன்மையாக கண்டிக்கிறோம்.
இச்சம்பவத்தின் போது காவல்துறையினரால் தாக்கப்பட்டு, தாராபுரம் அரசு மருத்துவமனையில் சிகிச்சை பெற்று வரும் அவரது சகோதரர்… pic.twitter.com/4CnAMmdNdT
கருத்தைக் கருத்தியலால் எதிர்கொள்ளத் திராணியற்ற விடியா தி.மு.க. அரசின் அடக்குமுறை அரங்கேறியுள்ளது!
திருப்பூர் தெற்கு மாவட்ட பா.ஜ.க. இளைஞரணி சமூக ஊடகப் பிரிவு நிர்வாகி தம்பி பாரதி கண்ணனை, எவ்வித சட்ட நடைமுறைகளையும் பின்பற்றாமல் காவல்துறையினர் கைது செய்துள்ளனர். உடன் சென்ற அவரது… pic.twitter.com/XYhmfFvSgX
On 17 January 2026, at around 12:30 PM, Bharathi Kannan was taken away in Mulanur, Dharapuram Taluk, Tiruppur district, after a group of eight men in civilian clothes, travelling in a Hyundai Verna, deliberately caused an accident while he was riding a two-wheeler with his brother Lingesh near the Aavin Milk Society. Bharathi Kannan was forcibly apprehended without any arrest memo being shown, without any reason being cited, and without the men identifying themselves as police personnel. Since then, his whereabouts have not been disclosed to his family. His brother Lingesh sustained injuries during the incident and is undergoing treatment at a nearby government hospital. Bharathi Kannan’s parents, Ramasadasivam and Logamani, later approached the Mulanur Police Station to lodge a complaint, but the inspector, Vivekanandan, refused to register it, stating that confirmation from superiors was required. Repeated attempts to contact the Superintendent of Police, Tiruppur (Rural), and the Inspector General of Police, Coimbatore Range, reportedly went unanswered.
The incident has triggered a sharp political reaction from the BJP, which accused the police of acting as enforcers for the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government. The party demanded immediate action against the policemen involved, stating that the law had been openly violated.
Placing the arrest in a broader context, the BJP said the action against Bharathi Kannan was part of a sustained crackdown on its youth wing across Tamil Nadu. The party recalled an earlier incident in which BJP youth wing functionaries were attacked inside a private television office located just metres away from the Police Commissioner’s office in central Chennai. According to the BJP, no cases were registered against the attackers, while police instead booked cases against the BJP workers who were assaulted.
The BJP stated that these cases were later used to justify arrests. Lal Prasad, a state executive committee member of the BJP Youth Wing, was earlier taken into custody and imprisoned during the Pongal court holidays, without due process, the party said.
Subsequently, the Madras High Court granted interim protection to BJP youth wing members and directed that no arrests be made. The BJP said the arrest of Bharathi Kannan amounted to a direct violation of this court order. The party further claimed that Bharathi Kannan and his brother were assaulted during the arrest and that the police have so far refused to disclose his whereabouts since he was taken into custody.
Former Tamil Nadu BJP state president K Annamalai has written to the National Human Rights Commission, seeking intervention in what the party described as an illegal arrest and custodial excess.
தமிழக அரசியலில் கடந்த 75 ஆண்டுகளில் கண்டிராத அடக்குமுறையை ஆளும் தி.மு.க அரசு பாரதிய ஜனதா கட்சி இளைஞரணியின் மீது ஏவியுள்ளது. சென்னையின் மையப்பகுதியில், காவல் ஆணையர் அலுவலகத்தில் இருந்து சில மீட்டர்களே உள்ள தனியார் தொலைகாட்சி அலுவலகத்தில் புகுந்து பா.ஜ.க இளைஞரணி நிர்வாகிகளை… pic.twitter.com/xzZOUIj7RU
In its statement, the BJP accused the police of targeting opposition party workers across the state instead of focusing on criminals and antisocial elements, and said the developments reflected a breakdown of governance under Chief Minister M. K. Stalin. There was no immediate response from the state government or the police at the time of publication.
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The Central Bureau of Investigation is expected to issue a summons to John Arokiyasamy, adviser and chief strategist of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay, to appear for questioning, sources said.
The development comes in connection with the Karur tragedy that occurred on September 27 last year, when severe overcrowding at a public meeting attended by Vijay led to the deaths of 41 people. The CBI is investigating the incident, with the probe being monitored by a Supreme Court-appointed committee comprising retired Justice Ajay Rastogi and senior IPS officers Sumit Sharan and Sonal Mishra. According to officials, the investigation has now reached its final stages.
On 12 January 2026, CBI officials questioned Vijay at the agency’s headquarters in New Delhi for about seven hours. Senior Tamil Nadu police officers Davidson Devasirvatham and Joshi Nirmal Kumar were also examined during the same session.
As further questioning of Vijay is required, the CBI has issued a summons asking him to appear again on 19 January 2026. He is expected to comply and present himself for continued interrogation.
Following this, CBI sources said a decision has been taken to summon John Arokiyasamy as well. As reported in Dinamalar, Arokiyasamy played a key role in planning Vijay’s campaign tours and public meetings across several districts in Tamil Nadu, based on a strategy he designed.
The sources further stated that, during the Karur event, instructions were allegedly given to party functionaries and the vehicle driver to move beyond the location permitted by the police and park the vehicle at a distance before Vijay addressed the crowd. The reasoning cited was that if Vijay spoke from the police-approved spot, opposition from protesters gathered at the venue could escalate into stone-throwing towards the vehicle.
CBI officials are now seeking to ascertain how John Arokiyasamy received information suggesting the possibility of stone-pelting, who provided him with such information, and the credibility of that input. Statements made earlier by TVK members who were questioned as part of the probe reportedly indicated that the decision to move and park the vehicle away from the permitted location was taken on Arokiyasamy’s instructions.
Based on these aspects, the CBI has decided to call John Arokiyasamy for questioning and is expected to issue a summons to him shortly, the sources added.
On 18 January 2026, a social media exchange laid bare the DMK’s entrenched hostility towards Brahmins, when a ruling party legislator reduced an entire community to “mosquitoes” in a public post while also reportedly calling for their elimination.
Political commentator Sumanth Raman posted on X mocking the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s record of poll promise keeping in office. Writing from his handle, he said: “The committee preparing the manifesto for @arivalayam has an easy task. Take their 2021 manifesto, change the date to 2026 and remove the handful of promises fulfilled. Add some more freebies and it is done. Should not take more than an hour”
The committee preparing the manifesto for @arivalayam has an easy task. Take their 2021 manifesto, change the date to 2026 and remove the handful of promises fulfilled. Add some more freebies and it is done. Should not take more than an hour. 😂😂😂
The post criticised the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government for what he described as unfulfilled promises during its term.
In response, Thousand Lights constituency MLA Dr. Ezhilan quoted Raman’s post and wrote: “One of the many requests from the people to eliminate certain species of mosquitos …”
The remark immediately drew backlash on social media, with netizens alleging that the language amounted to dehumanisation and a veiled call for genocide, with some interpreting the “mosquitos” reference as being aimed at Brahmins.
The controversy intensified when a DMK ally, Indian National Congress State Working Chairman (OBC) Dhivya Marunthiah, added a laughing emoji while sharing Ezhilan’s post.
It is noteworthy that Marunthiah had earlier circulated an older clip of Islamist extremist Ahmed Ali aka Palani Baba, in response to Vedic scholar Dushyanth Sridhar’s post about Thirupparankundram. In the video, Ali is heard saying, “I’m giving you a final warning, stay inside your house or else, I’ll turn into an extremist.”
Let us take a look at genocide calls against Brahmins by DMK functionaries.
In June 2022, the party’s spokesperson Rajiv Gandhi posted on his Twitter advocating genocide against the community.
Political commentator Sumanth Raman had shared a snippet of EV Ramaswamy Naicker (EVR)’s speech in which the anti-Hindu hate mongerer calls for killing Tamil Brahmins.
“They are celebrating festival it seems.. He (Tamil Brahmin) is celebrating Soora Samharam (a festival commemorating Lord Murugan’s victory over demon king Soora Padman). He (Soora Padman) was someone who said there is no God. They (Tamil Brahmins) killed him. So, now we can kill those buggers.” EVR, who is hailed as ‘Periyar’ by his followers says in that speech.
EVR also goes on to say “That won’t be wrong. Maybe legally it will be wrong. That legal offence and all is humbug. We can’t be bothered that it is legally wrong. We have to come to this conclusion. Wherever we see a temple, we must go inside and break all the idols inside. Wherever we find a Paapaan (a derogatory way of calling Tamil Brahmins), we must kill and destroy him. He has done like this to us. He has come to this good position by doing these kinds of things only. We must also do such things to him (Tamil Brahmin). A few of us (non-Brahmins) would have to die for the cause. If one Tamilan (non-Brahmin) dies for one Tamil Brahmin, only 3 of us will die out of every hundred. Balance 84%, sorry.. 100-3 equals 97, 97-3 equals 94. 94% of us will still remain but he (Tamil Brahmin) will be completely eliminated. We will definitely go this level. We can only go step by step.”
This brazen call for genocide was given by ‘Periyar’ EV Ramaswamy Naicker in 1973 at Karikudi, Tamil Nadu.
Sharing this speech snippet on his X handle, Sumanth Raman drew the attention of the people living in the rest of India to understand the hate peddled against Tamil Brahmins in Tamil Nadu. He also added that the genocide did not happen thanks to Indira Gandhi, and AIADMK supremos MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa.
Responding to this tweet, DMK spokesperson Rajiv Gandhi wrote “Had only the Shudras carried out Periyar’s instructions, they wouldn’t have to fight with people like you today to get justice, employment, rights, education, employment and equality. At 3% you are still encroaching a lot of the space.”
Now let us take a look at the anti-Hindu comments made by Ezhilan.
In March 2025, the Thousand Lights MLA propagated divisive views and ridiculed the highly revered spiritual text, the Bhagavad Gita. The incident took place at a book launch event for Dravidian Stock’s translation of Kalaignar’s Thirukkural, where he mocked Hindu spiritual texts like the Gita and Upanishads.
Speaking at the event DMK MLA Ezhilan said, “Have you noticed that even today, Kamba Ramayana festivals are being conducted in palatial five-star hotels under the guise of Bhagavad Gita oration? They declare it as ‘elite,’ delivering narrations in English, and then you have Englishmen’s narration, exclaiming, ‘Wow! awesome! The Bhagavad Gita is a perceptional change!’ That (Gita) itself an extra fitting. The Mahabharata unfolds on one side, and it is evident that this (Gita) was cleverly inserted in the middle. Suddenly, at the peak of the war, Krishna begins advising Arjuna—this is what they call the Gita.”
He laughed and said, “Dei, there’s a war happening, people are killing each other, and now you’re giving advice? Comrades, we have studied many war stories from around the world—have you ever read anything like this? We’ve read the Iliad and the Odyssey. We have the Puranaanooru, which even depicts elephants. That’s fine. We’ve also spoken of Kalingathu Parani. But tell me—have you ever seen a moment in the middle of a war where, as arrows fly, someone says, “Wait, I’m advising him!”? Do you understand any of the logic behind this? They inserted it into the Bhagavad Gita and used it to influence/killing us (Vachu Seiran), but there is no originality in it, comrades.’”
Then DMK MLA Ezhilan argues that the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads were deliberately crafted as a strategic response to counter Buddhist influence. Furthermore, Ezhilan continues, stating that the tradition (without directly naming Hinduism) contains mantras primarily for destruction—mantras for jaundice and diseases, for urination, and even for constipation. He remarks, “If you study them, you’ll find it laughable; it’s an extensive content.”
This is not the first time DMK MLA Ezhilan has been accused of offending Hindu sentiments. On 3 June 2021, in a controversial move, DMK cadres set up a stage in front of Chennai’s Perumal Temple to mark Karunanidhi’s 98th birth anniversary, distributing chicken and mutton biryani despite COVID restrictions. The event, attended by leaders including DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran and MLA Ezhilan Naganathan, drew backlash for obstructing the temple entrance and serving non-vegetarian food. Hindu organizations strongly condemned the act, leading to widespread public outrage.
ஆயிரம் விளக்கு பகுதி 118வது கிழக்கு வார்டில் அமைந்துள்ள சீனிவாச பெருமாள் சன்னதி தெருவில் அமைந்துள்ள பெருமாள் கோவில் வாசலில் 3 – 5-2021 மாலை 12 மணி அளவில் கருணாநிதி பிறந்தநாளை முன்னிட்டு கோவில் வாசலில் சிக்கன் மற்றும் மட்டன் பிரியாணி போடப்பட்டது , தயாநிதி மாறன் எம் பி pic.twitter.com/Yl1F2qQ1DT
In another old video, the DMK leader can be seen spewing venom against Hindu Gods much like what was done by the rabid anti-Hindu YouTube channel Karuppar Koottam.
In the video, Ezhilan Naganathan can be heard saying, “Narada is a known face in Hindu mythology. But, did you know that all he wanted was to be sexually involved with a lot of women?”
He then went on to say how Lord Vishnu had acted like a ‘pimp’ and had asked Narada to go around to the houses on Earth and take every beautiful girl who was present there for himself.
“When Narada had entered any house on Earth, Lord Vishnu was found to be sprawling on the laps of these women. When Narada had questioned this, Lord Vishnu had merely laughed. This caused Narada to proceed to transform himself into a woman, just so he could sleep with Lord Vishnu”, Naganathan can be heard saying in the video.
Another time, the DMK leader called those smearing sacred ash and thiruman as fools. He also insults Hindu worship by saying that women go in front of a stone and pray to fix their husbands.
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The disaster of a film called Parasakthi, directed by Sudha Kongara, have reignited debates around Tamil identity, anti-Hindi politics, and the ideological legacy of the Dravidian movement. While the film positions itself as a politically conscious narrative engaging with the Hindi imposition question, it selectively presents history, omitting crucial aspects of EV Ramasamy (EVR/Periyar)’s own documented positions during the 1965 anti-Hindi agitation.
The omission does not seem to be accidental, but that of politically convenience.
What EVR Said In 1965 – And What The Film Avoids
During the second anti-Hindi agitation in January-February 1965, student-led protests swept Tamil Nadu, eventually escalating into statewide unrest. While present-day Dravidian narratives often portray EVR as an unambiguous ideological force behind the agitation, contemporaneous records indicate a more complicated and controversial stance.
EVR Supported Hindi
EVR is on record questioning the logic of opposing Hindi when other states had accepted it. In responses published at the time, he reportedly asked: “What harm will Hindi cause? When thirteen states have accepted it, how can you alone oppose it?” These statements drew sharp criticism from Tamil scholars and activists who were at the forefront of linguistic resistance.
The Tamil journal Thenmozhi, edited by Devaneya Pavanar and Perunchithiranar, published sustained rebuttals to EVR’s position. Scholar Pulavar VP Palanivelan, writing in the same period, reportedly dismissed claims that EVR could be considered a Tamil nationalist leader, calling such portrayals misleading.
Students As “Rowdies”: EVR’s Characterisation Of The Agitation
In a 1965 Pongal special issue of Kurinji, edited by Nedumaran, EVR was asked about the reasons behind student unrest. According to K.P. Neelamani’s book Thanthai Periyar, EVR attributed the agitation not to Hindi imposition but to what he described as governmental weakness and the spread of indiscipline and “rowdyism” among students.
While Congress leader K Kamaraj is reported to have cautiously suggested that northern leaders viewed the agitation as politically motivated, EVR went further, openly describing the protests as a “movement of rowdies” and criticising the Congress government for failing to suppress them effectively.
Archives of DK’s own mouthpiece Viduthalai from the period show that it was EV Ramasamy (hailed as ‘Periyar’ by his followers) who openly criticised the protesting students, referring to them as hooligans and questioning the political motives behind the agitation.
இன்றும் மாணவர்கள் காலித் தனம். பஸ்ஸை கொளுத்தினர். பச்சையப்பன் கல்லூரி மாணவர் ள் (விடுதலை, 26.01.1965).
“Today also students indulged in hooliganism. They burnt buses. Pachaiyappan College students” (Viduthalai, 26 January 1965)
திருச்சியில் மாணவர்கள் காலித்தனம் பஸ்க்கு தீ. தபால் நிலையம் கொள்ளை. (விடுதலை, 10.02.1965).
“In Trichy, students indulge in hooliganism. Bus set on fire. Post office looted.” (Viduthalai, 10 February 1965)
EVR, through his ‘Viduthalai’ newspaper, supported the brutal repression carried out by the police against the protestors.
He even went to the extent of instigating violence against the protestors saying “The hooliganism has increased. Comrades! Keep kerosene in your hands ready. Keep a matchbox. When I point, you light the fire.”
Source: Keetru
This position stands in stark contrast to the moral framing of student resistance that later Dravidian narratives and now Sudha Kongara’s Parasakthi, appear to endorse.
Clash With Rajaji And Escalation Of Rhetoric
The period also witnessed a public exchange between EVR and C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), who argued that English, not Hindi, was the most practical link language for India and warned that developments in Tamil Nadu risked deepening internal divisions.
EVR responded sharply in Viduthalai, criticising the DMK and Tamil movement supporters and accusing them of political opportunism. Thenmozhi countered by accusing EVR of effectively aligning with North Indian dominance while attacking Tamil voices within the state. The exchanges reportedly intensified EVR’s hostility toward the agitation.
Calls For Suppression And Extraordinary Measures
According to Thenmozhi and R. Muthukkumar’s History of the Dravidian Movement, EVR went on to advocate extreme measures, including banning political parties such as the Swatantra Party and the DMK, shutting down newspapers, and imposing gag orders to prevent discussion of the anti-Hindi agitation.
As the protests spiralled into violence marked by police action, arson, firing on students, and suicides – DMK leader CN Annadurai issued a statement distancing the party from student violence and calling for restraint.
EVR’s response, however, proved even more controversial. In a 1965 issue of Viduthalai, he reportedly claimed that the agitation subsided only after he instructed party cadres to take up incendiary materials, knives, and fire implements to intimidate and suppress protesters.
In the book “Kilarchiku Thayaaraavom! (Let’s Prepare For The Uprising)”, EVR wrote “The vandalism carried out in the name of anti-Hindi! Where is Hindi in Tamil Nadu? Which school mandated any student to study in Hindi? The newspaper scoundrels and crazy politicians who are peddling about ‘mandatory Hindi’, you people without thinking are being scared about imaginary ‘Hindi’ which doesn’t even exist!”
He further went on to say “If four hooligans had been shot in the beginning itself, all this vandalism and so much loss of life and property would not have occurred. Why is there a law? Why does police have lathis? Why do they have guns? Have they been given to kiss? What kind of a government is this!”
Source: Keetru
Bhaktavatsalam’s government, officially treated the protests as a law-and-order issue. His administration repeatedly warned against violence, threatened “stern action,” and deployed police and paramilitary forces, while blaming opposition parties like the DMK and Left groups for large-scale destruction of public property.
There are no official documents to prove that at any point Bhaktavatsalam publicly used the language attributed to him in the trailer. Transferring EVR’s words onto a Congress leader is a clear attempt to sanitise and distort EVR’s actual position.
Rejection Of Tamil Sentiment Itself
Beyond the Hindi question, EVR repeatedly criticised Tamil emotionalism. In a 1967 Viduthalai article dated 16 March, he warned the public against those who, in his words, sought to “survive by exploiting Tamil sentiment,” dismissing slogans about protecting Tamil or sacrificing one’s life for the language as deceptive tactics aimed at misleading ordinary people.
Cinematic Convenience
Sudha Kongara’s Parasakthi engages with the symbolism of anti-Hindi resistance while excluding EVR’s own scepticism, denunciations, and calls for suppression during the 1965 agitation. By doing so, the film seems to reinforce a streamlined political narrative rather than engaging with the historical record in its entirety.
This form of cinematic storytelling – selective, sanitised, and ideologically aligned that serves present-day Dravidian politics by preserving a morally consistent lineage, even if that consistency requires erasing inconvenient facts.
