DMK Edu Min Who Pounced On Motivational Speaker Mahavishnu For Talking Hindu Concepts In Govt School Is MIA In Vikravandi St. Mary’s School Girl Death Case

The Tamil Nadu School Education Minister, Anbil Mahesh of the DMK, has come under fire for his glaring double standards in addressing controversies in government schools. While he swiftly intervened and issued threats against a motivational speaker for discussing Hindu spiritual concepts during a school event, he has remained conspicuously silent on the tragic and suspicious death of three-and-a-half-year-old Lia Lakshmi at St. Mary’s Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Villupuram.

The St. Mary’s School Tragedy: A Case Of Neglect And Cover-Up?  

The death of Lia Lakshmi early in January 2025, a kindergarten student at St. Mary’s School in Vikravandi, has shocked the state. The school claimed that Lia accidentally fell into a septic tank during school hours. However, inconsistencies in the school’s narrative and the CCTV footage have cast serious doubts on this explanation.  

The footage revealed a teacher carrying Lia near the septic tank, returning without her, and other staff members pretending to search the tank while the child was still in the teacher’s arms. Additionally, a driver was seen acting as though he was searching in the tank, further fueling suspicions of a staged cover-up. Lia’s parents also noted discrepancies, such as claims about her white shoes being found in the tank, despite her wearing red shoes that day. Bloodstains on her ribbon and shirt, along with a bleach-like smell, have further contradicted the school’s septic tank narrative.  

Lia’s father, K. Palanivel, has accused the school of fabricating the story to conceal a potential crime. He has demanded a CB-CID investigation, alleging tampering with CCTV footage and threats to the family to pursue justice. Despite these serious allegations, Anbil Mahesh and the DMK government have remained silent, failing to take decisive action or even address the public’s concerns.  

Contrasting Response: DMK Minister’s Overreaction To Spiritual Speaker  

In stark contrast to his silence on the St. Mary’s tragedy, Anbil Mahesh was quick to intervene when a motivational speaker, Mahavishnu from the Paramporul Foundation, delivered a talk on Hindu spiritual concepts at government schools in Ashok Nagar and Saidapet in September 2024. During his speech, Mahavishnu discussed ancient Indian education systems, British rule’s impact, and karma and rebirth.  

While the speaker’s talk was intended to inspire students, it reportedly offended Dravidianists and Periyarists, leading to widespread outrage. A school staff member objected to the content, sparking a heated argument. A video of the incident went viral, prompting Anbil Mahesh to personally visit the school, issue warnings, and threaten severe action against the speaker.  

The minister even praised the teacher who interrupted Mahavishnu’s speech, stating, “You came to my area, spoke, and left, you have insulted my teachers. So, I’m stressing at this point that I will not let you off lightly.” His swift and aggressive response to the speaker’s Hindu-themed talk stands in sharp contrast to his inaction in the St. Mary’s case, where a young child lost her life under suspicious circumstances.  

The DMK government’s contrasting responses to these two incidents highlight a troubling pattern of selective outrage and political bias. While the minister was quick to condemn a Hindu speaker for discussing spiritual concepts, he has failed to address the systemic failures and potential criminal negligence that led to Lia Lakshmi’s death.  

Critics argue that the DMK’s priorities are skewed, with the government more focused on appeasing its Dravidianist base than ensuring justice and accountability in cases involving vulnerable children. The silence on the St. Mary’s tragedy led to many questioning whether the school’s Christian management could influence the government’s inaction.  

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