News Tamil Nadu

“Sins In Past Life – Boy, Good Deeds – Girl”: DMK Minister R Gandhi’s Controversial Remarks On Karma Go Viral, Critics Demand Action Similar To Motivational Speaker Mahavishnu

September 9, 2024
The Commune

An old speech by DMK Minister for Handlooms and Textiles, R. Gandhi, in which he discussed sins and karma while distributing welfare schemes at a government school, has recently gone viral. This has led to widespread trolling of DMK’s Education Minister, Anbil Mahesh. Netizens are questioning whether Mahesh will take similar action against Gandhi as he did with spiritual and motivational speakers like Mahavishnu of the Paramporul Foundation.

In the video, DMK Minister R. Gandhi is seen at Ranipet Government School, where he was distributing welfare schemes, including free bicycles, to students. Following the distribution, while addressing the gathered parents and teachers, he made a controversial statement. Gandhi suggested that sons are born to those who have committed sins in their previous lives, whereas daughters are born to those who have performed good deeds in past life.

DMK Minister Gandhi advised parents, saying, “Parents, do not forget how hard they are studying. Not only that, I will often say another thing. If someone in their past life has committed many sins, male children will be born, and if someone has done good deeds, only girl children will be born. Only a woman, wherever she is, will care for father and mother.”

The speech has gone viral following the recent arrest and 14-day remand of a spiritual speaker, Mahavishnu, who delivered a talk on rebirth, karma, past life and Thirukkural philosophy at government-run schools in Ashok Nagar and Saidapet on 5 September 2024, during Teacher’s Day celebrations.

The speaker’s comments reportedly angered Dravidianists and Periyarists, sparking significant backlash and criticism towards Tamil Nadu’s School Education Minister, Anbil Mahesh.

In response, Minister Anbil Mahesh visited the affected schools to investigate the incident. After his review, he addressed the media, warning that stringent action would be taken against the speaker. Mahesh expressed his frustration, saying, “You came to my area, spoke, and left, you have insulted my teachers. So, I’m stressing at this point that I will not let you off lightly.” 

Narayanan Thirupathy, the Vice President of the Tamil Nadu BJP, shared the video on his X page and mocked Education Minister Anbil Mahesh, stating, “Minister R Gandhi says that if you commit sin in the previous birth, you will have male children. Is it a sin to be born male? Isn’t this superstitious talk? You took action by arresting Mahavishnu  for speaking like this in a government school. Will you leave this minister alone who has come to your area and talked like this? Anbil_Mahesh will you not insist on arrest.”

The Saidapet police have charged Mahavishnu under four sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act 2023, Section 192 (Incitement to riot), Section 196(1)(a) (Dissemination of objectionable information), Section 352 (Disturbing public peace), and Section 353(2) (Spreading false information about religion and caste). Additionally, he faces charges under one section of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.

Mahavishnu was subsequently presented before the Saidapet judicial magistrate, who remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody. The city police are preparing to file separate First Information Reports (FIRs) as additional complaints continue to be lodged across various police stations, including Tiruvottiyur.

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