The controversial speech delivered by MLA ER Eshwaran in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has received condemnation from various sections on Thursday.
The first session of the 16th Legislative Assembly began on June 21 at the Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai. The assembly commenced its proceedings with the address of Governor Banwarilal Purohit. Following the Governor’s address, MLAs were allowed to speak in the assembly.
MLA E R Eshwaran, a DMK ally and MLA from Thiruchengodu constituency, who spoke in the assembly on the final day of the first session, made a controversial remark about the term ‘Jai Hind,’ which is a salutation and slogan that originally meant “Victory to India.”
ER Eshwaran, who runs a caste outfit in the Kongu region, told the Tamil Nadu State Assembly that by avoiding ‘Jai Hind’ in the Governor’s address to the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Tamil Nadu has become proud. He thanked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin for refraining from using the words “Jai Hind,” which the previous ADMK government used.
His remarks regarding ‘Jai Hind,’ which was used as a slogan to unify Indians across the country during the Indian freedom struggle, have been condemned by many political leaders and the general public. They also questioned Congress Party with 18 MLAs in Tamil Nadu Assembly for its silence and reluctance to criticize ER Eshwaran for his statements on “Jai Hind.”
K Annamalai, Vice President of the BJP Tamil Nadu, expresses his displeasure with the state of political discourse in Tamil Nadu.
The level to which our political discourse in Tamil Nadu has stooped down & the present atmosphere of ‘you scratch my back & I scratch yours’.
A politician feeling happy in the assembly that ‘Jai Hind’ is not used after Governors address!
– Jai Hind 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/fGk3MzjWiD
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) June 24, 2021
Political commentator Sumanth Raman took a dig at ‘Periyarist’ who are uncomfortable with ‘Jai Hind.’ He also questioned if MK Stalin endorses his comments.
Idiotic to say that speaking in favour of #JaiHind is being a sanghi. Since when did BJP get to own Jai Hind? If anything, some of their predecessors often supported the British, ironically, much like the Periyarists who are uncomfortable with Jai Hind now.
— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) June 25, 2021
What is their problem with saying Jai Hind now? If he has a problem with Jai Hind shouldn't he resign as an MLA? After all he serves under the same Constitution. Does @mkstalin endorse this? https://t.co/mMoVsUVfEQ
— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) June 24, 2021
Actress Kasthuri tweeted in support of saying ‘Jai Hind.’
VANDE MATARAM ! VAAZHGA BHAARATAM ! JAI HIND !
Urakka solvom JAI HIND !— Kasturi Shankar (@KasthuriShankar) June 25, 2021
Dravidians feeling proud that there is no mention of Jaihind in TN assembly….. https://t.co/4dewuKAimk
— Indu Makkal Katchi (Offl) 🇮🇳 (@Indumakalktchi) June 24, 2021
நீங்க கட்சினு ஒரு கூத்து நடத்தரதே உங்க குடும்ப நலனுக்குதான் இதுல எங்கிருந்து தேசிய எண்ணம் வர போகுது
உரக்க சொல்வோம்
உயிர் உள்ள வரை சொல்வோம்#ஜெய்ஹிந்த்#வாழ்க_பாரதம் #வளர்க_தமிழகம்— Selva Kumar (@Selvakumar_IN) June 24, 2021
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