In a recent development, Kolathur Mani, the founder of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, has sparked controversy by making remarks concerning Hindu religious symbols while also launching verbal attacks on respected members of the judiciary.
இதெல்லாம் பேச்சு சுதந்திரம் இல்லையா ஜட்ஜ் அய்யா??
நீதிபதியை நாய்ங்க'னு சொல்றதுக்கு எல்லாம் Suo Motto கேஸ் போட முடியாதா ஜட்ஜய்யா??? pic.twitter.com/a9oIUg42H8
— Saravanaprasad Balasubramanian 🇮🇳 (@BS_Prasad) October 10, 2023
Mani’s comments came during the 145th birthday celebration of E.V. Ramasamy Naicker (hailed as Periyar by his followers) at Dindigul. During his speech, he said, “A judge named G.R.Swaminathan gave a statement on the Hijab issue that students should not wear religious symbols inside the school campus. But he himself wears a forehead full of vibhuti (sacred ash) with Kumkuma in the centre to the court. If hijab is a religious symbol then vibhuti is also a religious symbol. Then what are you doing wearing it inside the court? You shouldn’t go.”
Kolathur Mani uses the singular (avan) pronoun when talking about Justice GR Swaminathan.
He also attacked Justice Seshasayee saying “Another fellow in Chennai court, Seshasayee explains that Sanathana Dharma is about how citizens must behave with the king, but how the king must treat his citizens, how parents should behave with children and children with parents. Hey, fool (madaya) are you saying all this after reading the book? He did not read the law book properly, you should have at least read this book. We read it fully, to counter these dogs, we are reading all this (sanathana dharma related information).”
Kolathur Mani was earlier in the news for organizing an anti-Hindu rally in which members of several rabid Dravidianist outfits spewed venom against Hindus and Hindu Gods, abusing Goddess Amman, Lord Krishna, Lord Ayyappan and also insulted followers of the Hindu faith.
It is noteworthy that during the same gathering, Rajiv Gandhi, the president of the DMK Student Wing, was also present and delivered a speech.
@dvkdindigul சார்பில் எது திராவிடம்? எது சனாதனம்? 100 ஆவது கூட்டம் தந்தை பெரியார் 145 ஆவது பிறந்தநாள் விழா பொதுக்கூட்டத்தில் திமுக மாநில மாணவரணி தலைவர் @Rajiv_Gandhi அவர்கள்@arivalayam@DMKDindigul#திவிக | #DMK | #Dravidam1000 | #dvkdindigul | @kolathur_mani | @viduthalaikr pic.twitter.com/CFwL4IB9Nu
— DVK Dindigul திவிக (@dvkdindigul) October 11, 2023
@dvkdindigul எது திராவிடம்? எது சனாதனம்? 100 ஆவது கூட்டம் தந்தை பெரியார் 145 ஆவது பிறந்தநாள் விழா பொதுக்கூட்டத்தில் @dvkperiyar கழகத் தலைவர் தோழர் @kolathur_mani அவர்கள்@viduthalaikr#திவிக | #Dravidam1000 | #dvkdindigul | #KolathurMani | #ViduthalaiRajendran | @MaruthaMoorty pic.twitter.com/tDauwcgiyr
— DVK Dindigul திவிக (@dvkdindigul) October 11, 2023
It’s important to clarify that Justice G.R. Swaminathan was not involved in the Hijab case proceedings, and the case itself was filed in Karnataka, rather than Tamil Nadu.
However, when the Karnataka High Court upheld its ban on hijab in educational institutions, the radical Islamist organisation Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath (TNTJ) issued death threats to Supreme Court judges in light of the verdict on hijab given by the Karnataka High Court. Covai R. Rahmatullah, a leader of TNTJ, made inflammatory remarks during an event in March 2022, suggesting that if any harm befalls the judges as a result of the Hijab case verdict, they should be held responsible.
Kolathur Mani’s comments included derogatory language directed at the judges, characterising them as fools and dogs.
Just a couple of months ago, well-known publisher Badri Seshadri, who heads ‘Kizhakku Pathippagam,’ was arrested by Tamil Nadu police in the early hours of 29 July 2023. He faced charges under various sections, including 153, 153A, and 505, in relation to comments he made during an interview on a YouTube channel about the Manipur issue referring to the CJI. The arrest came following a complaint by advocate Kaviyarasu.
The question of whether legal action will be taken against Kolathur Mani, who has close affiliations with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, is to be watched out for.
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