Shalin Maria Lawrence, a self-proclaimed writer and an alleged activist who also comes across as a DMK supporter has once again stoked controversy.
In a tweet, Shalin Maria Lawrence alleged that her wifi connection stopped working becasuse her ‘Brahmin neighbour’ messed with the cables which was passing through the latter’s house. She said that since the ‘Brahmin neighbour’ did not want the WiFi connection running through her house she tampered with the cables because of which her internet stopped working.
She then claimed that her ‘Brahmin neighbour ‘called the service provider and had her box relocated.
She then alleged that the service provider heeded the neighbor’s advice and disabled her WiFi, leaving her without Internet for more than a week.
Lawrence further went on to claim that her neighbor’s actions are a “clear violation” of the “SC/ST” protection laws, but she cannot file a case under the Act since she is a Christian Dalit who is not covered by it.
Netizens began questioning her motives of bringing in the caste identity and her desire to invoke the SC/ST law in what appears to be a common neighbourhood quarrel. Her intentions to create a Brahmin-Dalit divide invited the ire of netizens, prompting her to withdraw the tweet.
Imagine wanting to file SC/ST case on a neighbour over Wifi issue. This blatant misuse to settle scores is why it's the most draconian act today.
The actual people who need protection aren't even aware of this act, while the privileged ones abuse it claiming to fight for others. pic.twitter.com/wUCwba7qkZ
— Cogito (@cogitoiam) October 3, 2022
Gems from a journalist with @TheQuint. pic.twitter.com/8Lye61rbeD
— The Common Swadeshi (@CommonSwadeshi) October 3, 2022
Unable to answer the questions, she played the victim card once again, claiming that she cannot tolerate casteist abuse and bullying by “Brahmins and RSS supporting Shudras”, and hence deleted the tweet.
I have deleted my previous tweet. I really can't take in this much Casteist abuse and bullying by Brahmins and RSS Supporting Shudras. It's horrible how caste networks work.I would not trade my mental health for proving that I am right .It's enough. I will face it legally.
— Shalin Maria Lawrence (@TheBluePen25) October 3, 2022
She also took to hurling abuses at those who disagreed with her calling them as ‘mayiru’ (cuss word in Tamil meaning hair) and ‘mayiru pudingi’ (a derogatory cuss word that means ‘hair plucker’).
Dei mayiru….there are hundreds of wires going through every house in the neighborhood and she is only messing around with the cable which comes to my house . STFU.
— Shalin Maria Lawrence (@TheBluePen25) October 3, 2022
Reverse Casteism doesn't exist da mayiru pudungi.
— Shalin Maria Lawrence (@TheBluePen25) October 3, 2022
This is not the first time the alleged activist has grabbed limelight.
Earlier in February 2022, she posted in her Facebook page that religious conversion of Hindus in Tamil Nadu is essential for arresting the growth of BJP in the state.
In her post, Shalin Maria Lawrence said “There are two ways to arrest the growth of BJP in Tamil Nadu. One is religious conversion. The other is to steadfastly take the thoughts of Iyothithasar and Ambedkar.”
She also added that the ‘BJP will use the atheism as a weapon’ to its advantage.
Shalin further added that bringing about changes in the culture and restoring (read distorting) history is the need of the hour to counter communal politics.
After several netizens called out the problematic post, she edited the post removing the suggestion about ‘religious conversion’ and later deleted the post itself.
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