News Tamil Nadu

“PM Modi’s Roadshow Was A Circus Meant For West Mambalam People”: DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran Yet Again Targets Brahmins

April 13, 2024
The Commune

Three-time MP and DMK’s candidate for the Central Chennai Lok Sabha constituency for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Dayanidhi Maran, called the Prime Minister’s roadshow in Chennai’s Pondy Bazaar area a “circus”.

Speaking to the Times Of India, when asked about the impact of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent roadshow in Chennai, Maran dismissed the notion of a significant “Modi Factor” in the city. He said, “I think this new generation will not be aware of it. Earlier in our generation, we used to have the circus called the Gemini Circus or the Great Bombay Circus, it happens once in a while. All of us go to the circus and watch the show. Similarly, Modi gave a show only for the West Mambalam people, not for the entire Chennai.”

Dayanidhi Maran making such a statement seemingly indicates him targeting the Brahmin community once again.

When asked if the fight was between DMK and the BJP in Central Chennai, Maran arrogantly replied, “Definitely not. It is DMK versus ADMK. BJP is not anywhere on the scene. Probably they’ll be competing with NOTA. That’s how low they are. Because they can’t. See this is all the inflated narrative made by BJP to look strong. How can they grow from 3%? They’ve done nothing. Has the prime minister delivered anything for Tamil Nadu or any of Chennai or anything? There’s no projects.”

Maran claimed that the public response to his campaign was satisfying, attributing it to the fulfillment of promises made by Chief Minister MK Stalin over the past three years. He said the schemes like the ₹1000 empowerment programme for women ‘resonated well’ with the electorate. 

In reality, Dayanidhi Maran has been questioned by his constituents for his unfulfilled promises. Also, DMK candidates who have been campaigning all over the state have been boycotted and questioned over the same ₹1000 for women scheme as many women across the state have not received it – the state told them they were not eligible for the scheme. 

Central Chennai, Maran noted, mirrors the diversity of India, encompassing various religious, linguistic, and ethnic communities. He reiterated the DMK’s ‘commitment to secularism and inclusive governance’, emphasising their vision for a pluralistic India. 

Ironically, the DMK is known for its hate towards North Indians, calling them fools and toilet cleaners – this was especially said by Dayanidhi Maran in the past. Critics wonder if abusing migrant workers and people from other communities and geographies is the DMK model of inclusive governance. 

Dayanidhi Maran has earlier made very casteist jibes against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He used words like “Unga thopanaar” to indicate Sitharaman’s father (in a language/dialect used by Brahmins in TN) when he was speaking in Parliament in February 2024 about the central government aid to TN for the floods.

Earlier in 2023, he addressed Sitharaman as “Nirmala mami” during a “day-long” fast against NEET and then pretended to have said it inadvertently. The word Mami is used as a slur and in derogatory fashion especially by Dravidian ideologues when addressing Tamil Brahmin women in Tamil Nadu. It is noteworthy that Dayanidhi Maran is himself married a Tamil Brahmin from The Hindu family and his mother, wife of Murasoli Maran, the father of Dayanidhi Maran and nephew of M Karunanidhi was also a Tamil Brahmin woman.

In context with the jibe at PM Modi’s roadshow, a few days ago Maran called Annamalai a joker and pretended not to be aware of him.

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