Naam Tamilar Katchi’s fiery leader, Seeman, has once again found himself at the center of a heated controversy following his recent statements regarding Christians and Muslims in Tamil Nadu. Seeman’s incendiary remarks have drawn sharp criticism from various political quarters, and his attempt to clarify his stance seems to have further fueled the fire.
The controversy began a few days ago during a protest condemning violence in Manipur when Seeman called Christian and Muslim voters as “children of Satan” castigating their voting patterns, particularly their support for Congress and the DMK. Unsurprisingly, his statements were met with swift condemnation from the DMK and its allies, including demands for an apology from Manithaneyam Makkal Katchi Chief M. H. Jawahirullah.
However, instead of offering an apology, Seeman remained defiant, stating that he wouldn’t apologize for his comments. He questioned whether the minorities would vote for him even if he did apologize, claiming that they had not supported him in the past and were unlikely to do so in the future.
In an apparent attempt to regain some ground and woo minority communities, Seeman took a defensive stance on 3 August 2023. He asserted that he would use a slipper to hit anyone who referred to Christians and Muslims as minorities. Seeman contended that both communities were integral to Tamil Nadu, hailing them as “sons of the soil” who were true Tamils. He clarified that his ire was directed only at those who supported the DMK and Congress, not at the entire Christian and Muslim communities.
Seeman went on to praise Christianity and Islam, portraying them as religions born to fight against injustice. He quoted Palani Baba (A Muslim extremist), who called Islam and Christianity a revolution against injustice, rather than a religion per se.
Regarding his earlier controversial remarks, Seeman claimed that his anger stemmed from the minorities’ consistent voting for the DMK and Congress, even though he contested in multiple elections without receiving their support.
Shifting the focus to Tamil identity, Seeman highlighted the importance of language over religion in shaping the destiny of nations. He stressed that Christians and Muslims in Tamil Nadu were Tamil at their core, asserting that people could change their religion but not their race.
In a tangent, Seeman also questioned the presence of Inbanidhi, the son of actor Udhayanidhi Stalin, at government functions, questioning whether Tamils had become subservient to the Karunanidhi family.
Seeman’s latest statements have only intensified the controversy, with political leaders and civil society expressing concern over the potential polarizing impact of his rhetoric.
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