Dravidianist propagandists in Tamil Nadu frequently propagate misleading narratives and shield the ruling DMK from criticism, making it a routine occurrence. Among such propagandist media is YouTurn, an outlet that has unofficially acted as the DMK’s mouthpiece since the party came to power in 2021. Operating under the guise of fact-checking, YouTurn has been criticized for faffing, its lack of journalistic integrity, and consistently peddling biased propaganda in favor of the DMK.
Below are instances where YouTurn has been accused of spreading false information.
1. YouTurn’s Propaganda Push For DMK’s 29-Paisa Tax Devolution Claim
Propaganda:
On 2 January 2025, DMK’s mouthpiece Youturn claimed that Tamil Nadu receives only 29 paise for every rupee it contributes in taxes, criticizing the central government for retaining a significant share through cess and surcharges.
In the financial year 2022-23, Tamil Nadu contributed ₹1,07,063 crore in direct taxes and ₹27,361 crore in CGST, totaling ₹1,34,424 crore. Youturn alleged that the state received only ₹38,731 crore in return, accounting for just 29% of its contribution. It compared this with Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, claiming they receive ₹7.06 and ₹2.73, respectively, for every rupee contributed. The report also accused the central government of increasing cess and surcharge collections, which are not shared with states, stating that only 32% of total tax revenue is distributed instead of the constitutionally mandated 41%. According to Youturn, the Central Government retains 68% of the revenue, creating an imbalance in federal financial distribution.
Reality:
However, these claims have been criticized as misleading since they focus solely on direct tax refunds while ignoring indirect tax revenues and centrally funded welfare schemes. Tamil Nadu benefits from GST revenue sharing, receiving 41% of CGST collections, 100% of SGST, and 50% of IGST generated within the state. Additionally, cess and surcharge collections fund nationwide welfare programs and infrastructure projects, including medical colleges, highways, health insurance, and farmer welfare initiatives that benefit Tamil Nadu.
Furthermore, taxes paid by corporations in Tamil Nadu, such as Hyundai and Nokia, contribute to national revenue, which is redistributed among all states. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, tax revenue allocation has been structured to ensure fair distribution, with Tamil Nadu receiving its due share alongside substantial welfare and development projects. The claim that Tamil Nadu gets only 29 paise per rupee oversimplifies the complex tax-sharing system, ignoring indirect tax revenues and central spending that benefit the state.
Under the Modi government (2014-2023), Tamil Nadu has received more central funds compared to the Congress-DMK period (2004-2014):
- During the Congress-DMK regime (2004-2014): Tamil Nadu received only ₹1.58 lakh crore over ten years.
- Under the Modi government (2014-2023): Tamil Nadu received ₹4.75 lakh crore over just eight years—three times more than the previous decade.
Additionally, Tamil Nadu paid ₹6.24 lakh crore in direct taxes and received ₹6.97 lakh crore in return—a net gain of over 90% of the amount paid
2. You-Turn’s Attempt To Paint PM’s Vishwakarma Scheme As ‘Kulakalvi Thittam’
Propaganda:
Dravidianist YouTuber-turned-state-run fact-checking head Iyan Karthikeyan and the media outlet YouTurn were accused of distorting facts to support the DMK’s narrative while misrepresenting Tamil Nadu BJP State Secretary SG Suryah’s rebuttal regarding the PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
Chief Minister MK Stalin had dismissed the scheme as caste-based and announced that Tamil Nadu would not implement it. In response, Suryah clarified that the scheme aimed to uplift artisans through financial aid, training, and market support, drawing a comparison to Tamil Nadu’s Poompuhar initiative, which also recognized artisans based on traditional vocations. However, YouTurn selectively highlighted only the DMK’s claims while taking Suryah’s statements out of context to frame the scheme as caste based.
Iyan Karthikeyan, allegedly ‘former’ Editor-In-Chief of YouTurn, who now heads the unconstitutional “fact-checking” body of the DMK government, further pushed this narrative by stating that Poompuhar awards were based on material quality and not traditional family businesses, implying that there was no caste element involved.
Reality:
In response, Suryah countered this claim by sharing application forms for Poompuhar, which asked for details of traditional vocational education (indirectly asking caste-based work), exposing inconsistencies in Karthikeyan’s argument.
Iyan Karthikeyan was exposed for hypocrisy while pushing a pro-DMK narrative. He claimed the ‘Poompuhar’ award did not ask for caste information but ignored that it required details on traditional or gurukula-based learning. Meanwhile, the ‘Vishwakarma Yojana’ never mentioned caste as a criterion. His own posts contradicted his claims, revealing his bias.
Similarly in September 2023, the alleged fact-checking portal YouTurn, in a video posted on Twitter/X, claimed that the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana promotes ancestral or family-based occupations. The video made several claims about the scheme, including that it selects beneficiaries based on caste and prioritizes caste-designated occupations. However, these claims were debunked, as the scheme does not discriminate based on caste or require adherence to caste-based occupations. Instead, it supports individuals in the unorganized sector with training, loans, and marketing assistance, aiming to develop traditional crafts and techniques.
3. YouTurn’s Dravidian Model Sticker Over Modi Govt’s Efforts To Rescue TN Cyber Slaves
Propaganda:
On 22 October 2024, YouTurn media, through its official X account, claimed that the Tamil Nadu government had played a vital role in rescuing individuals trapped abroad as cyber slaves. The post quoted Minister Senji Mastan, who stated that information about those stranded in Cambodia reached the Chief Minister through their families, prompting the state government to take action and bring them back at its own expense.
Reality:
However, this claim overlooks a fundamental fact—foreign affairs and international rescue operations fall under the jurisdiction of the central government, not state authorities. The truth is that in November 2022, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reported the successful rescue of over 370 Indians who had fallen prey to job scams in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi confirmed that Indian diplomatic missions in Yangon, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai were actively handling these cases. He further noted that approximately 108 individuals were rescued from Cambodia alone, highlighting that many victims from India and other countries had been lured into fraudulent job schemes and left stranded in these regions.
4. Youturn’s Attempt To Discredit RSS & Seva Bharati Relief Efforts During Kerala Landslides
Propaganda:
Alt News and DMK’s mouthpiece YouTurn came under fire for allegedly exploiting the Wayanad landslide tragedy in 2024 to undermine the relief efforts of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Rashtriya Seva Bharati, even as two RSS volunteers lost their lives while rescuing victims. During the period, Alt News and YouTurn selectively attacked to advance their ideological narratives to simp the interests of the ruling DMK and Congress parties.
A controversy arose when old photos of RSS workers from the 2018 Kerala floods were mistakenly circulated as part of the current relief efforts. Alt News and YouTurn used this to claim that RSS was falsely taking credit for the Wayanad rescue operations.
Reality:
However, Vishwa Samvad Kendra and other reports confirmed that RSS and Seva Bharati volunteers were actively involved in the relief work, including setting up help desks, providing food, and assisting in medical aid.
Reports from 31 July 2024, confirmed RSS and Seva Bharati’s involvement in rescue and rehabilitation in Wayanad. Volunteers worked on the ground from the early hours, providing assistance to victims, setting up collection points for essentials, and coordinating efforts across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Two RSS swayamsevaks, Sarath Babu and Prajeesh, lost their lives while rescuing people in the landslide-hit areas. Sarath Babu saved 15 people before going missing, while Prajeesh perished after multiple rescue attempts. Their sacrifices were widely recognized. BJP leaders, including BL Santhosh, highlighted the contributions of RSS volunteers, criticizing those attempting to discredit their efforts. Mediyaan News and Kerala BJP accounts also provided continuous updates on RSS-led relief operations.
5. YouTurn Claimed CN Annadurai & Manmohan Singh Held Top Positions Through Public Mandate
Propaganda:
During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, DMK’s mouthpiece YouTurn attempted to mock Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar by claiming that former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh secured their positions through electoral mandates contrary to the historical facts.
Reality:
Annadurai became Chief Minister through the MLC route and Manmohan Singh served as Prime Minister through the Rajya Sabha.
In response, YouTurn acknowledged that Annadurai had contested elections in the past but argued that he had still faced the public, unlike Sitharaman and Jaishankar. However, netizens noted factual inconsistencies in YouTurn’s statements, particularly regarding the existence of a “Chennai South” constituency during Annadurai’s time.
Historical records confirm that Annadurai lost the 1962 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections but led DMK to victory in 1967, subsequently becoming Chief Minister. He was elected to the Madras Legislative Council in April 1967. Manmohan Singh, on the other hand, had an extensive Rajya Sabha tenure, representing Assam from 1991 to 2019 and Rajasthan from 2019 to 2024.
6. YouTurn’s Buttressing Of Congress
Propaganda:
In January 2024, YouTurn falsely branded as misinformation a statement by BJP Tamil Nadu State Secretary Ashwathaman, who asserted that the Congress government’s 2013 bill permitted FIRs to be filed only against Hindus in cases of communal violence, while exempting Muslims and Christians.
YouTurn refuted this, arguing that the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (PCTV) Bill 2011 did not explicitly state such provisions.
Reality:
However, a closer analysis of the bill reveals that its definition of “group” includes only religious and linguistic minorities, as well as Scheduled Castes and Tribes, effectively ensuring that the law applies only when violence is committed against these groups. Consequently, if violence were directed at Hindus, the bill lacked provisions to prosecute members of minority communities.
Further clauses in the bill reinforced this bias, as offences like sexual assault, hate propaganda, and organized violence were deemed punishable only if committed against minority groups. This created a discriminatory framework where members of the majority community could be prosecuted, while identical offences by minority groups were not recognized under the law.
Ultimately, YouTurn’s attempt to discredit Ashwathaman’s statement collapses under scrutiny, as the bill’s provisions support his claim. The platform’s misrepresentation of facts raises concerns about its credibility, reinforcing allegations that it functions as a propaganda tool rather than an impartial fact-checker.
7. YouTurn’s Failed Propaganda On Rainfall Alerts Issued By IMD
Propaganda:
Whenever the DMK faces criticism, its mouthpiece YouTurn rushes to its defense. A prime example occurred on 22 December 2023, when Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a press conference slamming the Tamil Nadu government for its poor handling of the recent floods in Chennai and the southern districts. She accused the DMK administration of negligence, highlighting its failure to implement precautionary measures despite early warnings from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), drawing parallels to the disastrous 2015 floods.
In response, YouTurn, attempted to refute Sitharaman’s claims and argued that IMD’s December 12 forecast mentioned only isolated heavy rainfall in select regions, downplaying the severity of the warnings issued before the floods.
Reality:
However, IMD had issued an Orange Alert for southern Tamil Nadu, indicating “very heavy rain” (115.6 mm to 204.4 mm in 24 hours), which required immediate disaster preparedness. Rainfall data confirmed the accuracy of this warning, with locations like Kayalpattinam (94.6 cm), Tiruchendur (68.9 cm), and Srivaikundam (62.1 cm) experiencing severe precipitation.
Additionally, YouTurn misrepresented IMD’s alert system. IMD follows a four-tier warning system: Green (no advisory), Yellow (exercise caution), Orange (get ready for disruptions), and Red (take immediate action). While Red Alerts are issued only 12 hours before landfall, the Orange Alert given days in advance was a clear signal for preventive action—one that the Tamil Nadu government allegedly ignored.
What stands out here is the claim made by the alleged fact-checking website YouTurn, asserting that the rainfall in 2023 exceeded that of 2015. This claim was reportedly based on an article published by The News Minute, a Dravidianist and Leftist outlet that promotes narratives favorable to the DMK.
8. YouTurn’s Butressal Of DMK’s Anti Hindi Drama
Propaganda:
Interestingly, YouTurn media has a pattern of dismissing facts as “fake news” whenever it comes to shielding the DMK, regardless of clear evidence. In December 2023, Tamil Nadu woman Sharmilaa Rajasekar alleged that she faced linguistic discrimination at Goa’s Dabolim Airport when CISF personnel insisted she learn Hindi during a security check. Despite stating that she was unfamiliar with the language, she was reportedly told that Hindi is the national language and advised to “Google” it.
Sharmilaa, an engineer traveling with her three-year-old daughter, stood her ground, clarifying that Hindi is an official language, not a national one. She later filed both an oral and email complaint with the airport grievance officer, emphasizing the need for cultural sensitivity training. The complaint was forwarded to the CISF team for review, and she expressed intentions to escalate the matter to CISF headquarters.
The incident was quickly amplified by Dravidianist media, with Sun News Editor-in-Chief Mu. Gunasekaran highlighting the controversy on social media.
Reality:
However, social media users soon identified a woman named Sharmila Rajasekhar, who had previously posted in Hindi, suggesting she might be the same individual involved in the controversy. Screenshots of her past social media activity, including her YouTube channel, were widely shared.
Amid the growing speculation, the @sharmisharmiji social media handle, which many assumed belonged to the woman in the controversy, denied involvement, stating that she was being misidentified. Interestingly, past Hindi-language posts from the account were deleted, fueling further debates.
As the debate continued, YouTurn, stepped in, claiming that the woman accused of fabricating the controversy was not the same person from the airport incident. This further intensified discussions on whether the entire episode was a genuine case of discrimination or a manufactured controversy.
These are some gems of YouTurn media, run by Dravidian propagandist, is certified by the Poynter Institute—an organization linked to Pierre Omidyar’s Omidyar Network and George Soros’s Open Society Foundation. Ironically, recognizing the influence of YouTurn, the ruling DMK appointed its key figure, Iyan Karthikeyan, as the Mission Director of Tamil Nadu’s “Fact-Checking Unit,” tasked with countering fake news. This appointment drew criticism, with BJP Tamil Nadu’s social media humorously suggesting that the Chief Minister establish another fact-checking department to monitor the existing one.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
