The recent reinstatement of the controversial DMK member Sivaji Krishnamurthy into the party, was met with extensive criticism from social media, political parties and commentators. In an apparent attempt to pacify the situation, the Dravidian media on YouTube has embarked on a campaign to portray him as a hero. This includes slow-motion videos, poignant dialogues depicting him as a victim of circumstances, along with somber background tunes.
Sivaji Krishnamurthy, an aggressive provocateur notorious for delivering hate-filled speeches and often employing offensive language to criticize opposition figures including Bharatiya Janata Party State President K Annamalai, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami, former Chief Minister O. Panneer Selvam, VK Sasikala, Khushbu, and others, has been featured in interviews by several Tamil Dravidianist YouTube channels like Galatta Voice, Aadhan Cinema, Metro Mail, and others.
Recently, the official X handle of Devendran Palanisamy, the host of Galatta Tamil, posted a teaser video with the caption, “The plight of DMK speaker Sivaji Krishnamurthy”
திமுக பேச்சாளர், சிவாஜி கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தியின் பரிதாபநிலை… pic.twitter.com/r2LLtAhl5V
— Devendran Palanisamy (@devpromoth) February 23, 2024
Devandran Palanisamy, a prominent advocate of Dravidian ideologies and a regular participant in spirited debates with Rangaraj Pandey of Chanakyaa, consistently aligns himself with the DMK and its ideology. In this recent interview, his approach mirrored his usual stance with safe play in the guise of questions.
Devendran establishes the “poor” conditions in which Krishnamurthy is living – right from the inaccessibility to his home, to the very small-sized residence, stating that a politician is expected to live in fancy houses but that the same was not true of Krishnamurthy. He shows his “portion” of the house where he lives and says the house was destroyed by ADMK cadre many years ago. He also ensures to establish the fact that his house was inundated during the 2015 floods but was safe during the recent 2023 floods.
Krishnamurthy also manages to establish the sorrowful narrative by saying that prison has better facilities than his own home.
Sivaji Krishnamurthy presents himself as the son of the patriot Jayaraman, a freedom fighter. He expresses admiration for Sivaji (actor) and that he was inspired to engage in public speaking. He proudly states that MGR initiated a defamation case against him in the 1980s.
When Devendran commented that filing defamation cases was not a new practice, Krishnamurthy swiftly responded, saying, “You are thinking it always wrong, on what basis do you call slander? Devendran commented “MGR initiated case, based on something on that” Krishnamurthy responded “Yes that time… what I think is that, this is not a case for slander speech, it is a case for disturbing the crowd that attends my speech. I’m seeing till today as a case for disturbing me. Look, this is North Chennai, I was born in the same house that you just saw, I don’t know how you can expect someone who grew up here and moved here without talking like this.”
Immediately Devendran questioned “If you are born in North Chennai, do you have to speak derogatory words like this?” Krishnamurthy replied “Why do you take it as bad words, take only the content of what I say, why do you take it as bad words?“. He shared an anecdote to illustrate his point. He spoke of a Lord Murugan devotee who went to the temple but encountered an accident after he returned and that the victim’s parents ended up blaming Lord Murugan Himself. Mirroring the same approach, he emphasized that in his speech, he criticizes them in a similar justified manner.
During Krishnamurthy’s speech, it became evident that he was influenced by inaccurate information, claiming that the BJP promised to provide 2 lakh jobs annually but failed too keep and asserted that they will deposit ₹15 lakhs in bank accounts, which they did not fulfill. Later, when discussing the 2024 elections, he asserted that it would be another freedom struggle. He argued that farmers in Delhi are facing increasing oppression. In a typical fashion, the interview linked everything to the inauguration of the Ram temple and questioned its significance.
Devendran questioned “DMK is dynastic political party, a corrupt party? Krishnamurthy swiftly responded, saying, “I have an answer for that, if you do not have an heir, go to a doctor, do not trouble us. We have an heir, we will bring them to the fore. You question the dynastic politics. We had Kalaignar, now Stalin is the chief minister, on what basis do you say he is an heir? His first post in the DMK was that of a MISA prisoner. He then grew up in the ranks.” Then he recounted the typical DMK narrative, detailing how he joined the party and became an MISA accused, and so forth.
Finally Krishnamurthy strongly asserted saying, “Sivaji Krishnamurthy, He will be like this all the time he lives, he will be like this till he dies, so I don’t see whether we are in power or not, I was not arrested when we were not in power, but got arrested only in power.”
The Commune has reported earlier on the abusive behaviour of Sivaji Krishnamurthy – he left no stone unturned in terms of abusing BJP members or instigating violence against the Tamil Nadu Governor.
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