News Tamil Nadu

Taxpayer-Funded DMK Govt’s Fact-Check Unit Mission Director Iyan Karthikeyan & DMK Propaganda Outlet YouTurn Peddle Misleading Narrative On PM Vishwakarma Scheme And Poompuhar Awards; Get Schooled By BJP TN Leader SG Suryah

November 29, 2024
The Commune

The state fact-checker Iyan Karthikeyan was caught peddling misinformation regarding the PM Vishwakarma scheme that supported the DMK version but completely distorted the clarification offered by the Tamil Nadu BJP. This selective fact promotion is seen as another attempt to shield and promote the ruling DMK.

Dravidianist YouTuber Iyan Karthikeyan was appointed as the state-run fact-checking head, and the media outlet You-Turn, a mouthpiece for Dravidian propaganda, is once again exposed for spreading misleading narratives on the PM Vishwakarma Yojana. The outlet was caught selectively promoting the DMK’s version of events while distorting Tamil Nadu BJP State Secretary SG Suryah’s rebuttal to Chief Minister MK Stalin regarding the controversy over the non-implementation of the ‘PM’s Vishwakarma Scheme‘.

On 28 November 2024, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, in a statement posted on his official X account, announced that the state government would not implement the Centre’s ‘PM Vishwakarma Yojana’ in its current form, citing its failure to align with the principles of social justice. Stalin emphasized that the Tamil Nadu government would instead introduce a more inclusive scheme to support artisans from all backgrounds, rejecting any perpetuation of caste-based occupations (Kulla Kalvi Thittam).

In response, TN BJP State Secretary SG Suryah criticized Stalin’s remarks and offered a detailed rebuttal on X. Suryah argued that Stalin was misinformed and accused the Tamil Nadu government of politicizing the issue. He clarified that the central government’s Vishwakarma Scheme was designed to uplift artisans through loans, training, market support, and modern tools, with an initial allocation of ₹13,000 crore. Suryah also pointed out contradictions in Stalin’s stance, referencing the Tamil Nadu government’s history of honouring artisans, such as through the “Poompuhar” initiative started by Stalin’s father, which also involved caste-based recognition.

Suryah asserted that the central government’s scheme was genuinely aimed at benefiting artisans rather than seeking publicity. He criticized Stalin for politicizing social justice and further accused the Chief Minister of misleading the public about the scheme’s intentions.

Narrative Setting

Seizing the opportunity for their own agenda, Dravidianist YouTuber-turned-state-run fact-checking head Iyan Karthikeyan, along with the Dravidian propaganda outlet ‘You-Turn’, selectively distorted BJP State Secretary SG Suryah’s words to peddle a misleading narrative about PM Vishwakarma scheme. Iyan misrepresented Suryah’s question about Chief Minister Stalin’s stance on the central government’s ‘Vishwakarma Yojana’ comparing to TN’s Handloom department ‘Poompuhar’.

Suryah had asked, “Have you forgotten that in 1973, your father, the late Mr. Karunanidhi, started the Handloom Industries Development Corporation under the name “Poompuhar” and it will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024? To encourage the artisans of that company, you honor the best artisans of Tamil Nadu by giving awards every year. Isn’t that based on caste? Doesn’t that count as your false and distorted social justice?” This question, which referred to Stalin’s dismissal of the central scheme as “Kula Kalvi Thittam” (literally translating to caste-based family occupation training), was deliberately taken out of context by the media outlet to push a narrative favorable to the DMK.

In this regard, On 28 November the YouTurn via its official X account peddled, “The Prime Minister’s ‘Vishwakarma’ scheme defines family-based traditional profession as an eligibility. That is, a profession based on caste. @SuryahSG mentions that the primary objective of this scheme is to uplift the status of artisans and workers who work using manual labour and traditional tools. S.G.Surya left out the fact that the Union Government has mentioned it as ‘family-based practice’. It is a rule that the person who wants to benefit from the Vishwakarma scheme must be verified and confirmed by the Gram Panchayat President and the Administrative Heads of the Urban Local Bodies whether the person who wants to benefit from the scheme is engaged in the profession based on family tradition. It is on this basis that we say ‘Vishwakarma = family based occupation (Kulla Tholil)’.”

Following it, Dravidianist YouTuber-turned-state-run fact-checking head Iyan Karthikeyan peddled a similar narrative against the PM Vishwakarma scheme via his official X account stating, “Poompuhar Handicrafts Award. Offered on material basis. Awarded to traditional handicrafts, not traditional family businesses. The rules do not directly or indirectly ask for caste.”

In response to the narrative pushed by the Dravidinist Iyan Karthikeyan and media outlet YouTurn, TN BJP State Secretary SG Suryah delivered a sharp and fitting rebuttal supporting the Vishwakarma Yojana. He shared documents and mocked the claims, addressing, “Sir, truth seeker Mr. @Iyankarthikeyan! For someone who tweeted rhymingly with timing, stating that ‘The Poompuhar Handicrafts Award is given based on material. It is given to traditional handicrafts, not to those who do traditional family businesses,” do you know why the question ‘traditional vocational education’ is included in the application for this award?”

Suryah further urged, “Please, I humbly request you not to lower the standard of your responsibility by opposing the opposition parties for political reasons while holding important government positions. Thank you!” Along with his response, he shared images of the Poompuhar application forms, which clearly stated, “Vocational Education/Traditional Education Details” in one, and “Details about vocational education or details of learning a profession through traditional/gurukula methods” in another, highlighting the contradiction in Karthikeyan’s narrative.

What was truly ironic was that the shameless Dravidianist, in his desperate attempt to bolster his own narrative, got caught in a glaring display of hypocrisy and inconsistency. While trying to push a biased agenda in favor of the DMK, he claimed that the ‘Poompuhar’ award does not ask for caste information. Yet, he failed to acknowledge that it does, in fact, request details about learning a profession through traditional or gurukula methods. Similarly, the central government’s ‘Vishwakarma Yojana’ has never mentioned caste as a requirement. Despite this, the Dravidianist, bent on advancing the DMK’s narrative, was caught red-handed contradicting his own claims in their own posts.

Iyan Karthikeyan in subsequent posts stated, “Mr. Suryah, The application form for the Poompuhar Handicrafts Award has 9 rules. No rule based on caste is mentioned in it. Therefore, it is wrong to say that this award is caste-based. The application form only mentions “details of vocational education or details of learning the trade in the traditional/Gurukula system”. There are no rules that it is mandatory to have learned the trade in the Gurukula system. The Tamil Nadu government introduced the Artisan Development Scheme on the basis of improving the skills of those above 35 years of age who are already engaged in this profession. However, the rules of the Union Government’s Vishwakarma Scheme state that they can join it as soon as they turn 18. If so, the Tamil Nadu government’s argument is that this is like preventing students from pursuing higher education and forcing them into clan occupation. The first qualification set for applying for the Vishwakarma scheme is “to have done a family-based business”. This is what the Tamil Nadu government is opposing. The Tamil Nadu government’s intention is to help and include those who are engaged in family business due to circumstances. On the contrary, the Tamil Nadu government has opposed the Vishwakarma scheme with other objectives. Do not believe that you can win by constantly distorting information, changing it to suit you, and using words.”

SG Suryah further clarified that, “Mr. @Iyankarthikeyan! I don’t know whether you have posted after reading my statements. However, I would like to highlight a few things. In my statements, I raised the question, “If you are honoring the best artisans of Tamil Nadu by giving awards every year, then doesn’t it come on the basis of caste?” You are trying to twist my entire statements by taking the word ‘caste’ in that single line and saying that I am approaching this issue on the basis of caste. That is wrong with a ulterior motive.”

“I would like to school you what I have said in my statemnets for your clarity here!

  1. It is wrong for you to view this ‘Vishwakarma’ scheme that Mr. Narendra Modi has brought to light the lives of artisans on the basis of ‘caste’; I have clearly stated that it is for the category that does occupation based on manual labor and traditional tools.
  2. In the organization started by the late Mr. Karunanidhi in 1973 under the name of Handloom Industries Development Corporation- “Poompukhar”, you give awards to the best artisans every year, but in which category do you give them? I have pointed out that it is on the same basis on which the Central Government classifies artisans.
  3. It is right for you to call artisans and praise them for their work and give them awards, but is it wrong if the central government announces a scheme to improve the lives of artisans? I have raised the question that how do you differentiate between the first one, social justice, and the second one, social basis? 

But Mr. Karthikeyan, as usual, you read my statements and played with the word ‘caste’ in it and showcased to pay your salary as if you had worked today. In short, you have read the whole statement and started doing politics using the word ‘caste’ alone in it. That’s right. Finally, please read my statement again and then clarify. I am not the person to do politics with your usual ‘social justice’ rhetoric. See someone else for that. Thank you.” He added.

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