Dravidianist separatist ‘Thirumurugan’ Gandhi, the head of the separatist May 17 movement, has once again stirred controversy by speaking in seccesionist language. He also has spoken against Brahmins. It is noteworthy that Gandhi is known for his hate speeches against Hindus particularly the Brahmin community.
Speaking at an event on the Israel-Iran war, ‘Thirumurugan’ Gandhi drew parallels between the 2009 war in Sri Lanka against LTTE and the Palestinians. Focusing on foreign policy, Gandhi said, “I request the TN government, the DMK government must put together a foreign policy, May 17 Movement has been requesting for this for a long time. Velumurugan who is the Assembly member (MLA) and belongs to the May 17 Movement will surely move this in the Assembly. That is because we need a separate foreign policy for Tamil Nadu.”
Out of nowhere, he brings in Brahmins into the picture. He said, “India’s foreign policy is only for the benefit of Gujarati (baniya) businessmen designed by Brahmins. There is no place for Tamils in that foreign policy nor is there place for the betterment of Tamil Nadu. We must bring out a foreign policy keeping Tamil Nadu’s interests at the forefront. Based on that foreign policy only Delhi must function. If it doesn’t, things like Defence Corridor, and military bases must be stopped, and chased out. Without our knowledge, without our say, without us knowing, the bombs that fall on our children and we will not be saved by Modi. Sanghis will not prevent that. We have to fight it. What we left in 2009, what we failed to achieve in 2009, we must take up that politics and we must determine the politics of this region. Tamils are capable of deciding the politics of this region. Tamils are the strongest race in the South Asian region. Tamils are in Eelam, Malaysia, Tamil Nadu, Maldives, Mauritius, and South Africa in big numbers. With a uniform appeal from the Tamil race, the foreign policy, how this region’s Tamil race must be protected, we must rise up to that. Brahmins are unworthy of putting together a foreign policy nor do they have any experience. Gujaratis do not have any concerns towards that. For selfish politics, if this Brahmin-Baniya gang takes over the foreign policy, to break that we must raise our voice from Tamil Nadu, and I believe firmly that will be the Dravida Model’s voice.”
"India's foreign policy is only for Gujarati businessmen designend by Brahmins, things like defenseCorridor must be stopped,Modi will not save us if we are bombed, these people must not be allowed to dictate our foreign policy DMK govt must form it's own foreign policy .@HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/2hlcQJ154V
— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 ( மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@HLKodo) October 6, 2024
In January 2024, a Muslim woman’s video was shared by DMK functionary Padma Priya, in which she is seen making casteist remarks about Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Brahmin identity. Commentator Dr. Sumanth Raman responded, prompting Gandhi to criticize the Brahmin dialect as a form of caste-based superiority. He argued that only Brahmins use their dialect to assert dominance.
Which community/caste has its own dialect other than the brahmins? Kongu, Madurai, Nellai Tamil dialects are spoken by all communities. Brahminical dialect is not spoken by anyother caste except brahmins. The braminical dialect is racist in its own right. If braminical dialect… https://t.co/PGxD8XTemV
— thirumurugan gandhi (@thiruja2009) January 3, 2024
In May 2023, he incited violence by calling for a “people’s army” to confront the RSS and BJP. He claimed that the RSS orchestrated violence in Tripura to suppress ideological opponents and warned that similar unrest could occur if the BJP faces defeat in the 2024 elections. Gandhi encouraged organizations in Tamil Nadu to unite and fight the RSS on the streets, urging action against their rallies. He further incited violence by calling for a march to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, advocating the demolition of the building and the severing of RSS leaders’ heads.
In October 2020, ‘Thirumurugan’ Gandhi was involved in the release of a new “Tamil Nadu flag” alongside other Tamil nationalist and Periyarist groups. The flag, featuring a white background with a red map of Tamil Nadu, was intended to symbolize Tamil identity. At the flag launch, Gandhi announced plans to hoist it across the state on 1 November that year and urged people from all backgrounds to support it.
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