Even as Chennai grapples with heavy rains, leading to significant waterlogging and road closures, Dravidianist scribes like Arvind Gunasekar praise the DMK government’s management efforts, claiming they had a successful response to the deluge. As Gunasekar lauds the administration’s “preparation,” many wonder if the media is genuinely reporting the situation or merely supporting the government’s claims.
Chennai recently experienced heavy rainfall, with certain areas reportedly recording heavy rains within 24 hours. While such a downpour is significant, some Dravidianists masquerading as journalists are trying to set a narrative that the state administration has successfully managed the deluge. One among them was Arvind Gunasekar who has made it his goal to laud the government for its “preparation” and “seamless coordination”, despite evidence on the ground suggesting that much of the city is still struggling with waterlogging, road closures, and inundated homes. In a post on his X handle, he wrote, “Some places in Chennai have recorded 25-30 cm rainfall in 24 hours. That’s huge. Unlike the previous years, administration was well prepared to handle the deluge this time. No big loss of life or habitat. Less places inundated compared to previous years. Though more needs to be done for the future of the city, due credits for the political executives too for their efforts and seamless coordination between various departments. ‘Chennai flooded’ should soon become a thing of past! People should not be scared of NEM anymore.”
The enthusiastic praise directed toward the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), raises questions about his integrity and whether “journalists” like him are objectively assessing the situation or overly supporting the administration’s claims of success. While Gunasekar and others have highlighted that the city has fared better than in previous years in terms of loss of life and property, the reality for many residents tells a different story.
Flooded Streets And Inundated Homes: A Different Picture Emerges
Despite claims of improvement, many areas in Chennai continue to face significant disruptions due to waterlogged streets and flooded residential neighborhoods. Residents in various localities have expressed frustration over stagnant water and traffic snarls that have persisted despite the government’s assurances of better preparedness. Video footage and images circulating on social media depict vehicles struggling to navigate submerged roads, and some homes have seen rainwater seep in, causing inconvenience and damage to property.
For those dealing with the consequences of flooding, the portrayal of the situation as a “success” story seems premature and disconnected from reality. The challenges faced by daily commuters and families affected by waterlogging suggest that there is still much to be done to address Chennai’s flood management issues. The effort to frame the administration’s response as a significant achievement, despite these persisting problems, has drawn criticism from some quarters.
The Role of Media: Boosting Government Image Or Reporting Facts?
Arvind Gunasekar’s recent comments praising the government’s efforts and coordination come at a time when many are questioning whether the media is adequately holding the administration accountable. While it is important to acknowledge any improvements in flood management, the unreserved praise for the government appears to downplay the legitimate concerns of those still facing the consequences of inadequate infrastructure and water management.
Statements like “Chennai flooded should soon become a thing of the past“ may seem optimistic but can also be seen as an attempt to shift the focus away from the ground realities of poor drainage and insufficient urban planning. While the government may have indeed taken some steps to mitigate the impact of the rains, the suggestion that people “should not be scared of NEM anymore” appears overly reassuring, especially given that many localities remain vulnerable to even moderate rainfall.
Has Enough Been Done?
The DMK government has been claiming that it spent 4000 crores in making the stormwater drain system in the city first class, but the reality is a lot different. CM Stalin’s constituency Kolathur continues to face the brunt of the rains along with areas like Velachery, Pallikaranai, Sholinganallur, etc.
The portrayal of the DMK government’s response as a resounding success raises questions about the standards being used to evaluate the administration’s performance. The fact remains that while the impact of the rains may have been less severe compared to certain past instances, attributing this to extraordinary governmental efforts without addressing underlying systemic issues does little to advance meaningful solutions.
Much of Chennai’s flood-related problems stem from chronic issues such as inadequate stormwater drainage systems, encroachment on natural water bodies, and unplanned urbanization.
The Dravidianist Face Of Arvind Gunasekar
Pretending to be an unbiased journalist, Arvind Gunasekar has time and again exposed his Dravidianist leanings over the years.
In August 2024, when the Kolkata rape and murder was hitting the headlines, Gunasekar downplayed the brutal rape and murder of the trainee doctor, despite substantial evidence pointing to the crime. While autopsy reports confirmed sexual assault and violent death, Gunasekar used the term “alleged” to describe the incident, casting doubt over its severity. It is noteworthy that Tamil news media did not bother to report this incident on their news channels, nor did they talk about any of the other rape incidents that occurred in the state.
He also posted a misleading post on his handle regarding the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill passed in Uttarakhand. He shared an image of Schedule I from the UCC, highlighting prohibited relationships, and stated that marriages with an “Aunt/Uncle’s Daughter” would be restricted, implying this was a nationwide rule. However, in reality, many listed relationships are already prohibited under the Hindu Marriage Act and he forgot to mention the fact that the UCC applies only to Uttarakhand.
Like a typical Dravidianist, he also wanted to proclaim 30 January as “Gandhi Hatya Diwas”!
He even defended a Times of India article by Julie Mariappan, which claimed that the central government was discriminating against Tamil Nadu in allocating National Disaster Response Funds (NDRF). The article suggested that funds were being directed only to BJP-ruled states, despite Tamil Nadu’s requests for assistance. Arvind attempted to justify the claims by citing a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release. However, a PIB release indicated that additional assistance was allocated for natural disasters occurring between May and October 2021, while Tamil Nadu’s heavy rains occurred in November and December, making the article’s claims misleading.
During the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year, he even endorsed DMK candidate Ganapathy Rajkumar, describing him as a “calm and composed person” with a “proven administrative record” and a “Doctorate in Journalism”. However, Rajkumar’s Ph.D. was actually on the topic of “Emergence of Jayalalithaa as a Mass Leader,” not journalism. The doctoral thesis focused on assessing the leadership qualities of Jayalalithaa, a former AIADMK leader, through surveys in Tamil Nadu. Arvind’s endorsement faced criticism and mockery for inaccurately portraying the nature of Rajkumar’s degree and for endorsing a candidate with apparent political bias.
He also weighed in on the controversy surrounding AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi’s “Jai Palestine” slogan during his Lok Sabha oath. In a post (that was also shared by alleged fact-checker Mohammed Zubair), Gunasekar claimed that members of the opposition alliance, I.N.D.I.A, had opposed a BJP member’s “Jai Hindu Rashtra” remark during the oath-taking, suggesting it went against the principles of the Indian Constitution. His post appeared to shift the narrative towards criticizing the BJP while subtly defending Owaisi’s statement.
Like a true Dravidianist, he questioned the statement made by Karnataka BJP MP and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje who mentioned individuals trained in Tamil Nadu (Krishnagiri) coming here (Bangalore) engaged in bomb planting. Many like him criticised her statement but these criticisms seemed to lack an understanding of the context of Karandlaje’s speech and appear to be primarily aimed at fostering an anti-BJP sentiment in Tamil Nadu.
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