Thirumurugan Gandhi, a separatist who cloaks himself in the rhetoric of Tamil nationalism, is a simple political fringe, leading a small group called the ‘May 17 Movement’. While he presents himself as a UN speaker, human rights activist, and advocate for Tamil rights, he is nothing but a two-bit Dravidianist stooge who was propped by the DMK ecosystem. Despite his claims to champion Tamil nationalism, Gandhi has consistently worked to advance the political agenda of the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and its parent organization, Dravidar Kazhagam. He has been an active supporter of the DMK, particularly during times when it was in opposition.
In essence, Thirumurugan Gandhi can be seen as a loyal underdog of the DMK, a figure who promotes separatist rhetoric, fuels animosity against Hindu beliefs particularly targeting Brahmins, and create ruckus within the state — work that the DMK could not embrace. Recently, he appears to have been rattled by the resurgence of nationalist pride among Tamils, spurred by the success of the film ‘Amaran’, which highlighted the lives and sacrifices of Indian army officers. In a bid to undermine the growing nationalist sentiment, Gandhi tried to paint the film’s portrayal of the Indian Army as part of a Hindutva agenda, even going so far as to call the army’s line of actions in combating terrorists a “war crime.”
But, his attempts to undermine the growing sense of pride and unity only highlight the depth of his divisive agenda. Unfortunately, his inflammatory statements often go unchallenged, with many of his followers accepting his words without question. However, this time, his efforts fell flat.
Who is Thirumurugan Gandhi?
Thirumurugan Gandhi is far from the “rebel” his supporters may claim him to be, as portrayed on platforms like Wikipedia, where his followers frequently edit his page to downplay his controversial actions. A closer look reveals that he was most active when the DMK was in opposition, only to go quiet once the party came to power. Allegedly, Gandhi was once the proprietor of an advertisement company and later became involved in stage speeches. He took advantage of the Dravidianist and Periyarist platforms, which often hosted anti-Indian rhetoric, to further his own rise. He cleverly used dummy international platforms related to United Nations, which had no impact on sovereign government decisions, as a means to gain attention.
With his alleged background in advertising, Gandhi became known for promoting anti-India sentiments (Oh! The irony!) and advocating for separatist ideologies, including calls for separate states like Kashmir, Khalistan, and Tamils. His anti-national rhetoric gained traction with the DMK’s backing, as well as support from controversial businessmen like Lottery Martin’s son Jose Daison Martin, who many say was heavily involved in Gandhi’s protests and activities.
His modus operandi was exposed by his own colleague who Mallai Sathya to whom Gandhi had said that their strength is not campaigning for a party but against a party that is in power (except when the DMK is in power).
Against this backdrop, let’s examine the blatant lies he has peddled over the years and how shamelessly he has propagated them.
Thirumurugan Gandhi & His WTO Lies
In 2016, Thirumurugan Gandhi alleged that the newly formed BJP government at the center had secretly signed a Trade Facilitation Agreement under the World Trade Organization (WTO). He claimed that this would lead to the government halting the sale of food at subsidized prices, ending subsidies for power and fertilizers for farmers, and allowing multinational companies to flood India with imported food products, which he argued would devastate Indian farmers and destroy the economy.
However, the reality has been far different. The BJP has remained in power for a third consecutive term, and none of the dire predictions made by Gandhi have come to pass. In fact, the government has strengthened its support for citizens, ensuring continued access to high-quality rations at subsidized prices, and even providing free rations to the underprivileged, senior citizens, pregnant women, and children under six. Additionally, the BJP has worked to protect local industries from the adverse effects of foreign goods flooding the market, standing firm in the face of international pressure.
For example, when the US filed a complaint against India at the WTO, alleging that India had exceeded the allowed cotton subsidies. Despite this, India has stood its ground. Similarly, India has faced disputes over trade policies, such as a WTO ruling in favor of Japan regarding safeguard duties on steel imports, and US complaints about the underreporting of subsidies on wheat and rice. Despite these challenges, India has maintained its commitment to its citizens and local industries, refusing to back down in the face of external pressures.
For instance, on the issue of sugar exports, India has insisted that its subsidies are within WTO rules, rejecting claims that its support for domestic producers violates global trade norms. India continues to support its farmers and local industries while adhering to WTO guidelines, even as countries like Australia argue for equal competition with Indian industries.
In this context, Gandhi’s separatist and misguided rhetoric about the government’s policies is nothing more than a distortion of the truth. His failure to acknowledge India’s ongoing commitment to its citizens, particularly the underprivileged, only reveals his limited understanding of the country’s economic landscape and his disregard for the broader picture.
Thirumurugan Gandhi’s UN Stunt
Whenever Thirumurugan Gandhi is mentioned, his followers refer to him as “UN fame Thirumurugan Gandhi,” but it’s clear that many of them blindly believe whatever they’re told without any fact-checking. Yes, Gandhi did speak at the UN, but where exactly? It was at the Human Rights Council (UNHRC), right?
What exactly the UNHRC does? it serves as an international platform for discussing human rights issues, bringing together experts, states, civil society, and other stakeholders. It adopts resolutions, holds special sessions for urgent issues, and reviews the human rights records of UN member states. It can authorize commissions of inquiry and fact-finding missions, which gather evidence on serious issues like war crimes and crimes against humanity.
But how did Gandhi end up there? Likely through the ‘Complaint Procedure‘, which allows individuals and organizations to bring human rights violations to the attention of the Human Rights Council. This is different from the ‘Special Procedures’, which involve experts appointed to address specific human rights issues globally.
The important question to ask is: Does the UNHRC have the power to force any sovereign government to implement its decisions? The answer is ‘no’. The UNHRC can only offer suggestions, issue statements, or make recommendations, but it has no authority to impose binding terms on any country. It works through diplomacy and consensus, not enforcement.
Another point to consider is; If Gandhi was truly advocating for the Tamil people or seeking solutions to urgent issues like the ‘Sri Lankan Tamil crisis’ or the ‘fishermen’s issue’, why didn’t he raise these concerns at the UNHRC or the ‘International Court of Justice (ICJ) during his visit? The answer seems clear: Gandhi’s appearance at the UNHRC wasn’t about seeking real solutions, but rather about using the platform for political self-promotion and gaining publicity. In the end, these stunts appear more about creating a political persona and positioning himself as a capable leader, rather than genuinely addressing critical issues that affect his community.
Even in the video where he spoke at the UNHRC, Gandhi misrepresented the facts by claiming that the Indian government was responsible for shooting the Thoothukudi protesters. In reality, the tragic incident was carried out by the state police, which was under the control of the Tamil Nadu state government. In the aftermath, all officials involved were scrutinized and suspended, and a one-man commission recommended a criminal action into the matter. Therefore, it’s clear that this was a politically orchestrated stunt, designed to defame the ruling government during a period of DMK as opposition.
Dravidian Media’s Promotion
When Thirumurugan Gandhi was relatively unknown, the Dravidian media deliberately elevated him as a hero for a cause, framing narratives with sensational headlines. These headlines, which painted him as a champion of certain issues, continue to be cited on platforms like Wikipedia as references. For example, when the UNHRC panel members voiced concern over Gandhi’s arrest in 2017 under the ‘Goondas Act’, Vikatan media outlets reported that the UN had raised questions, a claim that was later used on Wikipedia to suggest that the Indian government had subsequently withdrawn the charges. In reality, the state government had filed the charges, but the court had discharged them. The Indian government played no role in the case, and neither the UN nor the UNHRC had any formal involvement. The UNHRC panel merely raised the issue during their discussions and submitted opinion papers.
Vikatan exclusively hosted an interview with Thirumurugan Gandhi’s father, and his supporters staged a scene, portraying him as a hero in the context of his 2017 arrest. However, critics point out that just five months earlier, in January of the same year, there had been a massive protest by youths over the Jallikattu issue. While the protest was initially peaceful, some anti-social elements infiltrated the crowd, causing chaos and disrupting the gathering. Critics argue that the government, having witnessed this disturbance, was unwilling to give another chance for such unrest to unfold again.
Thirumurugan Gandhi was heavily promoted during protests like those against the Methane Bed exploration project, the Neduvasal protest, and the GAIL pipeline projects. However, it is worth noting that the permissions for such exploration were granted by the DMK government but were vehemently opposed when the AIADMK was in power. Unfortunately, the gas pipeline project, which spans across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttarakhand, could not enter Tamil Nadu due to the strong opposition from their lobbies.
Nakkheeran, a pro-Dravidian magazine, further amplified Thirumurugan Gandhi’s rhetoric, giving him more space to express his anti-Hindu and anti-Brahmin views while also targeting the BJP-led central government.
The News Minute, another pro-DMK Leftist-Dravidianist outlet keeps platforming and giving coverage to Thirumurugan Gandhi as an ‘activist’.
He was also instrumental in peddling propaganda against NEET which the DMK made it as its poll plank in 2019 Lok Sabha elections and 2021 Assembly elections.
Thirumurugan Gandhi’s Brahmin Hatred
Thirumurugan Gandhi’s disdain for Hinduism and its practices is clear, yet he seems unable to tolerate even the idea of the Brahmin community embracing other groups. In an interview, he accused Brahmins who accept members from other communities into their fold of doing so with ulterior motives — to make them “silent partners” in their supposed misdeeds.
He elaborated, saying, “They (Brahmins) should keep people like some carpenters (aasaris), blacksmiths (kollars), those who make gold jewelry for the gods, and chariot makers close to them. Even they will put ‘Poonool’ (sacred thread) to them because they are close to the divine and them (Brahmins). This is done so others see these individuals as ‘important,’ and they have been allowed to join. What do the wearers of ‘Poonool’ think? they will think they are also important. But what do they (Brahmins) think? these people will be complicit, staying silent about any wrongdoings so lets keep them among us. This is simply a tactic of divide and rule.”
Even Thirumurugan Gandhi couldn’t tolerate the linguistic exclusivity of Brahmins, mocking them and expressing his views with intense vitriol, much like how Hitler harbored hatred toward Jews.
When all-in-all commentator Dr. Sumanth Raman (a Brahmin), had commented on the incident wherein a Muslim lady wearing a hijab makes casteist jibes at Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman by invoking her Brahmin identity. That video was shared by DMK IT Wing functionary Padma Priya (a YouTube beautician who joined Kamal’s Makkal Needhi Maiam but later jumped ship to DMK).
Responding to Sumanth Raman, Thirumurugan Gandhi said, “Which community/caste has its own dialect other than the Brahmins? Kongu, Madurai, Nellai Tamil dialects are spoken by all communities. Brahminical dialect is not spoken by any other caste except Brahmins. The Brahminical dialect is racist in its own right. If Brahminical dialect is used to maintain friendships among themselves, to find their caste identity and to assert their caste superiority in public, how can we call it apart from racism?” Gandhi expressed concern that the Brahmin dialect may be employed to “assert dominance” in public settings.
Which community/caste has its own dialect other than the brahmins? Kongu, Madurai, Nellai Tamil dialects are spoken by all communities. Brahminical dialect is not spoken by anyother caste except brahmins. The braminical dialect is racist in its own right. If braminical dialect… https://t.co/PGxD8XTemV
— thirumurugan gandhi (@thiruja2009) January 3, 2024
Unfortunately, this selective hatred was quickly debunked, with many netizens sharing examples of dialects from different places, highlighting the linguistic diversity across regions. To further expose the flaws in this narrative, a video of Tamil director Mari Selvaraj’s remarks from an award show gained attention. In the video, Selvaraj pointed out that there is no single, distinct dialect for Tirunelveli. Instead, he emphasized that the region has multiple dialects, each associated with different caste communities. Hence, it’s not just the Brahmins, but all communities have their own distinctive tone and dialect, each shaped by their cultural and social contexts.
“There’s no slang exclusively for Tirunelveli. I want to register that here. The Tirunelveli slang shown in cinema is different. In Tirunelveli, there’s a slang for every caste. That’s the problem there. If you look minutely, they can identify the caste based on the slang someone speaks. They’ve identified a separate slang for cinema but Tirunelveli slang is not like that.”, Mari Selvaraj says in the video.
“I call my mother as ‘yemmov’. ‘Yemmov sapaadu iruka?’ (Mother, is there food?). My friend calls his mother as ‘Aatha’ and another friend calls as ‘Amma’ and one other friend calls as ‘Amme’. There are so many differences in just the way one calls Amma”, he says.
You are just lying out of venemous selective hatred. Director Mari Selvaraj from Tirunelveli confirms that caste based dialects are indeed present, there. In a society where caste rules supreme, the oppressed are unlikely to use the dialect of the landed/dominant castes. Next? https://t.co/zYp7oTVt4T pic.twitter.com/tX8oRxKChJ
— anbudan BALA
எ.அ.பாலா (@AmmU_MaanU) January 3, 2024
Thirumurugan Gandhi Inciting Violence
Moreover, Thirumurugan Gandhi, on the brink of frustration and hoping for the BJP to be defeated, incited violence by advocating for the formation of a “People’s Army” to confront and challenge the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh). He further alleged that the BJP and RSS, as part of a fascist force, would resort to violence to retain power if they were defeated in the 2024 elections. This was because the BJP was actively monitoring and rooting out such unscrupulous elements.
In a direct call to action, Gandhi urged political and non-political groups to unite for the 2024 elections, and suggested forming a “People’s Army” to resist the RSS’s influence on the streets of Tamil Nadu. He further called for a march toward Nagpur, the headquarters of the RSS, demanding its removal and even going so far as to suggest that the heads of RSS leaders should be severed.
Gandhi peddled the blame on the RSS for orchestrating planned violence in Tripura, targeting ideological opponents such as Congress and Marxist Communists, and claimed that this was part of a broader strategy to establish a military-like structure capable of using terror across India. He fear-mongered that such violence could spread across the country, especially if the BJP faced electoral defeat.
He instigated violence by saying, “The next time we see brutality from the BJP or RSS, we should march toward Nagpur (RSS headquarters). We should fight until the RSS’s Headquarters is removed (demolished) from there. The battle must go on until the heads of those poisonous snakes (the RSS/Brahmins) are severed. Communist is capable of that sort of combat.”
Thirumurugan Gandhi’s Hate Peddling Towards North Indians
In 2018, the state government took decisive action to suppress fringe elements that had been using protests as a cover to create disturbances in the state. Meanwhile, the Indian government also decided to crack down on the social media pages of individuals, including Thirumurugan Gandhi, who were accused of instigating violence and spreading anti-Indian sentiments. These elements were seen as exploiting such protests to incite law and order problems and destabilize the situation, Gandhi quickly painted the move as a caste- and ethnicity-based attack, posting videos that designed to further fuel unrest and deepen divisions. He accused the Indian government of targeting Tamils in favor of “Maravadi” corporates and suppressing freedom of expression.
He said, “A massive genocide is being inflicted on the Tamils by the Modi government. They are doing this for the benefit of corporates and there is history of a huge donation from Vedanta’s Sterlite company received by the BJP. This government is doing white hunting of Tamils for corporate ‘Bania and Marwadi’.”
Not just that, Thirumurugan Gandhi had once made a hate speech saying that Marwaris in Tamil Nadu should be driven out of the state.
Then, in 2020, his social media accounts were blocked for condemning the Tamil Nadu government and police for charging three members of the Tamil Desiya Makkal Katchi under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for raising “anti-government” slogans at the funeral of the Maoist Manivasakam in Salem district. Gandhi portrayed the crackdown as an attack on freedom of expression. However, the real question is: When individuals openly support a banned Naxal organization like the Maoists and raise slogans against the government, will the government reward them with honors?
Thirumurugan Gandhi is someone who once told that Bharath Matha has no place in Tamil Nadu. Thirumurugan Gandhi is someone who openly and consistently advocates separatism of Tamil Nadu from India. Thirumurugan Gandhi is someone who harbours separatist views and supports/admires Islamist terror organization Hamas.
It is this rabid, hate-mongering anti-India element who has implicitly insinuated that Major Mukund Varadarajan, who heroically shot down the notorious Islamist terrorist Altaf Baba in Jammu & Kashmir, should be tried for war crimes.
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