The murder of TN BSP leader Armstrong near his residence in Chennai sent shockwaves across the state. Among those who were seen grieving the death included director Pa Ranjith. On 8 July 2024, he made a long post on his X handle which seemed to softly condemn the ruling dispensation.
கோழைத்தனமான கொடூர படுகொலைக்கு ஆளான பகுஜன் சமாஜ் கட்சியின் மாநிலத் தலைவர் அண்ணன் திரு.ஆம்ஸ்ட்ராங் அவர்களின் திருவுடலை, சலசலப்பு பதற்றம் ஏதுமின்றி சட்டம் ஒழுங்கு பிரச்சனை நிகழாமல் நல்லடக்கம் செய்து விட்டோம். அண்ணன் இல்லாத, அவருக்குப் பிறகான இந்த வாழ்க்கையை அவர் கொண்ட கொள்கையான…
— pa.ranjith (@beemji) July 8, 2024
In his statement, the Kollywood director seemed to imply that this murder was not condemned by other than scheduled caste individuals.
However, Pa. Ranjith subtly queried the DMK, not about the perpetrators behind the murder after 4 days but about the police’s future action plan in his initial statement. In subsequent remarks, he aimed to stifle voices on the internet questioning the government, though paradoxically raised questions about the police’s stance on Arudra’s involvement. Eventually, without directly accusing the DMK due to judicial constraints, he subtly insinuated doubts about the government’s regard for Dalit individuals and leaders. In his final statement, Pa. Ranjith shamefully shifted blame onto ordinary people showing sympathy for the deceased leader, with only DMK supporters defending against accusations that Armstrong was a criminal as propagated allegedly by the media, to deflect from their party’s law enforcement weaknesses.
It is not essentially true that leaders from the Scheduled Caste alone are unsafe in TN. Ever since the DMK came to power, several such instances have taken place. Let us take the date 24 June 2024 for example.
Incidents From June 2024
A 26-year-old youth named Lakshmanan was hacked to death near Minjur by gangsters over frivolous disagreements that occurred at a TASMAC bar while consuming alcohol. This is a common scene at TASMAc outlets across the city and state.
On the same day, in Tambaram, a youth named Surya was arrested because he snatched a mobile phone from another youth named Santosh. Santosh along with his friend Vignesh somehow retrieved the phone but later when Vignesh was found all by himself, Surya, intoxicated by TASMAC alcohol, hacked Vignesh to death.
One more incident at Maduravoyal on the same day – 65-year-old Aasaimani was arrested for killing his son. The reason for this was later revealed to be the fact that Aasaimani’s 35-year-old son would wreak havoc at home after getting drunk at a TASMAC shop and was always consuming ganja and causing trouble every single day. Unable to stand the daily torture caused by the son to the family, the father killed him.
Incidents From May 2024
In Walajabad on 28 May 2024, a lady Suguna was found dead after the thief stole her gold chain and hacked her to death.
On the same day, in Kundrathur, a youth named Rajesh was hacked to death for preventing a thief from snatching his phone.
On this day itself, near Tambaram, an auto driver named Karthik was killed by individuals who were intoxicated. Once again, TASMAC comes into the picture – the auto union leader, a DMK cadre, and his supporters hacked Karthik to death over some disagreement.
Again, on the same day, a person named Thomas was killed over non-payment of loan.
These instances show that there is no parity when it comes to hacking and killing in Tamil Nadu and what Pa Ranjith claimed (that Dalit leaders were unsafe) was untrue.
However, Pa Ranjith never condemned these incidents nor any other incidents that affected Dalit lives. His soft namesake criticism of the DMK over the law-and-order situation in the state is glaringly silly.
It is a fact that Armstrong had the support of a large section of the Dalits in the North Chennai region, and this was seemingly a problem for the DMK. However, Pa Ranjith did not question this aspect.
Interestingly, Armstrong was against the DMK and understood that a person from the Scheduled Caste would not get recognition if they joined the DMK. However, for all the grief that Pa Ranjith displayed, he did not question this.
Be it Vengaivayal or Nanguneri or any other caste-based incidents in Tamil Nadu, Pa Ranjith never raised a finger at the DMK – he would either not write about it at all or would softly criticize the DMK as lip service. Alternately, he would blame the Hindu religion for anything remotely related to caste.
His selective outrage and directed criticism towards the DMK following the brutal murder of Armstrong exposes his casteist mentality. Only when tragedy knocks someone known to him or from his community, Pa Ranjith’s blood boils. Just because Pa Ranjith hails from the Dalit community, it doesn’t make him a saint or a voice of the oppressed. Pa. Ranjith’s selective outrage by voicing out for certain crimes while turning a blind eye to other crimes that happen under DMK’s watch makes him at the very least a silent oppressor and an enabler.
(With inputs from Maridhas)
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