The DMK, which has revived the old tactics of opposing Hindi imposition, has taken it a step further by inciting a new agitation similar to the one in the 1960s. The party is attempting to provoke people into self-immolation in the name of sacrificing for the language, and leaders from the DMK alliance have been delivering provocative speeches. This move comes in the wake of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s statement that funding for schemes under the National Education Policy will only be provided once the policy is implemented. The DMK, however, has framed the situation as an imposition of Hindi by the central government. In response, the DMK alliance organized a protest near the Chennai District Collector’s Office to voice their opposition to the central government’s actions.
During the protest, Velmurugan, leader of the Tamizhaga Valvurimai Katchi (TVK) addressed the gathering, saying, “I have just one request to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on behalf of this meeting. We are continuously operating democratically. We pass resolutions in the legislative assemblies and send them to the Union Government. We pass bills and send them to the Governor. If you ask whether we should give a proper whip to the Union Government, which treats us as insignificant, now is the time. Make this a proper platform, make it a platform for opposing Hindi. We will not cooperate with Union Government offices located in Tamil Nadu. First, in all the toll booths which is my favorite in Tamil Nadu, the DMK workers and the public, led by you, should not pay any tax. Secondly, we won’t cooperate with GST.”
He suggested that Chief Minister MK Stalin announce that, Tamil Nadu will not support to CBSE schools affiliated with the Union Government and Central government institutions.
“Please announce that NLC company, located in my area and supplying electricity to five states, has acquired lands in my constituency, forcibly taking land from farmers and produces electricity. Get back all the officials involved. Tell them we will not support Adani Port. Tamil Nadu Police and the Tamil Nadu government will cooperate with you to acquire land for Tata in Paranthur. Let me see how amusing it will be whether Modi kneeling before you or not? Do it, Chief Minister, do it once.”, toll vandalizer Velmurugan said.
He continued, “Right from sister Kanimozhi, Raja, TR Baalu, all the Parliament members are tearing apart the unjust acts of the Sangh Parivar gang led by the Modi government. After Karunanidhi, the 40 MPs under the leadership of our Thalapathy (Stalin) are so talented that they are making the whole nation turn and look. None of the Sanghi gang (Sanghi gumbal) is able to answer any of the questions posed by our people. Nirmala Sitharaman is seething and crying (referring to her in singluar). That “mami” (a derogatory term for a Brahmin woman) only gets angry. If you, who eat curd rice, can get so angry, then how much angrier should we, who eat bone marrow (nalli elumbu), be? This is your betrayal of this land and its people. Whether it is Cyclone Ockhi Vardah cyclone or Thane cyclone or if there is a natural disaster, there is no money. There is no money if Chennai sinks. When we asked them to send a helicopter to rescue the Kurangani fire accident victims, they said our aircrafts cannot “see” after 6 o’clock. Then why the hell do we have a military helicopter? If I talk too much, Chief Minister Stalin will call me in the Assembly and ask me why Velu did you talk like this. I am getting angry.”
Then he said, “I have a humble request to tell the Chief Minister, to tell our Police Chief, DGP, ADGP, and IG of intelligence to allow Velmurugan to play on the ground. He will come to you naturally. I will lock the NLC gate tomorrow. They’re not allowing even a Tamil to work as a contract worker, while they’ve brought 3,000 Hindi-speaking people here. What kind of festival is this Sanghi organizing in that town? I don’t want to name it. Tamils, who have been stripped of their dignity, are going on trains to Kashi. Did you see the footage on TV? They were slapped with slippers. Glass was broken. They ask, ‘What kind of audacity to sit in the chair?’ He reply, ‘I have a reservation,’ but they dragged him boating, ‘I’m Hindi speaker, get down Tamil dog,’ all while scolding in Hindi.”
Velmurugan then made unsupported claims, stating that the BJP is bringing people from Assam and Odisha to his village. He also alleged that the BJP is depriving them of their rightful opportunities by bringing other state cadres in the civil services.
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