As Tamil people across the world celebrated Puthandu (Tamil New Year) marking the beginning of the new solar calendar, the DMK which claims itself to be an upholder of Tamil culture did not extend wishes for the same.
However, just a day before, the DMK and its leaders had sent wishes to people on the occasion of Ugadi, the Telugu New Year.
திராவிட மொழிக் குடும்ப உறவின் அடையாளமான தென்னிந்திய நிலப்பரப்பைச் சேர்ந்த தெலுங்கு – கன்னட மொழி மக்களுக்கு இனிய உகாதி புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துகள்!
அவரவர் மொழிகளையும், பண்பாட்டுக் கூறுகளையும் போற்றிப் பாதுகாத்து, ஆதிக்கத்திற்கு இடமின்றி, அன்பால் இணைந்து சகோதரத்துவம் காத்திடுவோம். pic.twitter.com/Vzw2cnv8MO
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) April 13, 2021
"திராவிட மொழிக் குடும்ப உறவின் அடையாளமாக திகழும் தென்னிந்திய நிலப்பரப்பைச் சேர்ந்த தெலுங்கு – கன்னட மொழி மக்களுக்கு இனிய உகாதி புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துகள்!"
– கழக தலைவர் @mkstalin அவர்கள் வாழ்த்து.#Ugadi pic.twitter.com/GSzan1VLL1
— DMK (@arivalayam) April 13, 2021
Extending wishes to Ugadi, DMK chief MK Stalin wrote in Tamil “Happy Ugadi New Year to the Telugu and Kannada people of the South Indian landscape who are a symbol of Dravidian language family ties!”
“We will cherish and preserve their languages and cultural elements, and we will work together to preserve the brotherhood of love without domination”, he added.
However, the neither the DMK nor its chief through an official press release or through its handle extended wishes for Tamil New Year.
Every year Hindu Tamils celebrate the 1st day of Chithirai month as the beginning of the new year based on the solar calendar. The festival is celebrated in different parts of India as well as the world under different names.
Many lashed out at the DMK for claiming to be the champion of Tamils but not extending wishes for a Tamil festival.
DMK chief @mkstalin rejects Tamil New Year and doesn’t even wish as Cithirai Festival (like some whiskey and sourdough Liberals do)!
But Stalin wants to become Tamilnadu’s CM. If people have voted for this kind of a leader, they deserve DMK.
— Balaji (@balajiworld) April 14, 2021
EVR favoured British.Being his follower MK wanted the Tamil New year align with English New year. Nearest Tamil month is "Thai" only .At the same time he did not want to antagonize Telugus and left UGadi untouched
— Pulippaani Siddhar (@Pulippaani) April 15, 2021
The DMK Government in 2008 had declared that the Tamil new year should be celebrated on the first day of Tamil month of Thai (January 14) coinciding with Pongal and slightly closer to the new year as per the Christian calendar (January 1). The Tamil Nadu New Year (Declaration Bill 2008) was passed by the DMK MLAs in the Assembly in January 2008. This change to the traditional religious new year by the DMK government came under severe condemnation by Hindu priests and Tamil scholars.
This law was however rescinded by a separate act in the Tamil Nadu Assembly during the AIADMK regime on 23 August 2011.
Tamils across the world have ignore the DMK’s failed move and continue to celebrate Chithirai 1 as the Tamil New Year.
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