The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) allegedly called upon students from Samathur Municipal School in Pollachi to attend a party-related event conducted by the DMK Youth Wing under the guise of a government education program, causing controversy and concern among parents and educators.
The incident came to light after the school’s headmaster Gopalakrishnan received a request from municipal officials to send Plus-1 and Plus-2 students to attend what was described as the Naan Muthalvan career guidance initiative. Students were directed to a local hall where, upon arrival, they reportedly encountered a DMK youth wing seminar titled “Dravidam in All Directions” featuring political recruitment activities and party flag installations. The event saw Dravidianist speaker Mathivathani speaking about how to ensure Dravidianism is spread across.
The Naan Muthalvan scheme is a state government initiative for student career development, making its alleged misuse for political recruitment particularly contentious. With youth demographics being a significant factor in Tamil Nadu politics, such incidents attract heightened scrutiny.
When Gopalakrishnan became aware of the true nature of the event, he promptly turned the students away and sent them back home. Subsequently, several shocked parents called him to inquire about the incident, and their phone conversations with the headmaster have been made public.
In a phone call, Gopalakrishnan explained, “We were told it was a guidance workshop for higher education. I even asked for the names of interested students. But upon arriving, I saw DMK flags and political messages instead. So I turned the children away. This was a big mistake, and we assure it won’t happen again.”
Some parents alleged that their children were used for political purposes without consent, fueling growing resentment. The incident comes amid growing controversy over political interference in educational institutions. The headmaster insisted he was kept in the dark and that he would not allow students to be used in this manner in the future.
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