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.”
பாவம் செய்தால் ஆண் குழந்தை பிறக்கும்;
பள்ளியில் அமைச்சர் பேசிய வீடியோ சிக்கியது #Schoolevent | #Ministerspeech | #Minister_RGandhi | #BJP | #NarayananThirupathyhttps://t.co/y4W3uzOopr pic.twitter.com/wGaue1OYED— Dinamalar (@dinamalarweb) September 9, 2024
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.”
"உன்ன நான் சும்மா விட மாட்டேன்"
சென்னை அசோக் நகர் அரசு மகளிர் மேல்நிலைப் பள்ளியில் சர்ச்சைக்குரிய வகையில் பிற்போக்குத்தனமான சொற்பொழிவு – தட்டிக்கேட்ட ஆசிரியரை மிரட்டும் வகையில் பேசிய சொற்பொழிவாளர் மீது நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என அமைச்சர் உறுதி#SpiritualSpeech | #Chennai |… pic.twitter.com/EsVmRrZf8K
— PuthiyathalaimuraiTV (@PTTVOnlineNews) September 6, 2024
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.”
முற்பிறவியில் பாவம் செய்தால் ஆண் குழந்தை பிறக்கும் என்கிறார் அமைச்சர் @R_Gandhi_MLA அவர்கள். ஆண்களாய் பிறப்பது பாவமா? இது மூட நம்பிக்கை பேச்சு இல்லையா? அரசு பள்ளியில் இப்படி பேசியதால் தானே மகா விஷ்ணுவை கைது செய்து நடவடிக்கை எடுத்தீர்கள். உங்கள் ஏரியாவில் வந்து இப்படி பேசிவிட்டு… pic.twitter.com/0Cw0GNAITd
— Narayanan Thirupathy (@narayanantbjp) September 9, 2024
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.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.