In a recent development that has sparked debates across the state, Police Sub-Inspector P Rajendran has been suspended from duty as a result of purportedly making objectionable comments against religions. The suspension came after a voice note, attributed to him, circulated on a private WhatsApp group where he allegedly criticized Christianity and Islam. The remarks quickly went viral on various social media platforms, triggering a cascade of reactions and discussions.
Rajendran, serving in the Pulianthope Traffic Investigation Wing, is heard in the audio clip making statements that have caused a widespread uproar. He reportedly said, “This is India. We demolished the mosque in the Rama janma bhoomi and we are building a temple. We put the scepter in Parliament. Can you Christians and Muslims, stop this? If you can’t do it here, go and study in Pakistan or Saudi, don’t create religious problems. We are 80 percent, you both are 20 percent and whoever has the majority can rule.”
While acknowledging that some of the comments made by the Sub-Inspector violate professional conduct rules, the swiftness with which action has been taken in this instance has drawn attention to a perceived inconsistency in the handling of religious controversies involving government employees from different faiths.
Several Hindu organizations, including Indu Makkal Katchi, have voiced their condemnation of the DMK government’s actions. They highlight past instances where government servants from minority religions were allegedly engaged in religious activities, yet faced no comparable consequences.
For instance, in May 2023, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu was taken into custody after challenging a Muslim doctor who was wearing a burqa while on government duty. Despite the allegation that the doctor displayed an attitude of arrogance towards the uniform, the government chose to arrest the BJP member rather than address the issue raised.
Indu Makkal Katchi leader Arjun Sampath has pointed out the glaring contradiction in how religious incidents involving government employees are dealt with. The arrest of the BJP functionary, despite his complaint about the doctor’s uniform, is contrasted with the prompt suspension of Sub-Inspector Rajendran over his pro-Hindu comments. In a tweet, Indu Makkal Katchi chief Arjun Sampath said, “While no action has been taken on the woman government doctor for wearing Hijab during working hours, action has been taken on SI Rajendran for showing his patriotism.”
மருத்துவராக பணியாற்றும்போது மதம் சார்ந்து உடை அணிவேன் அரசு சீருடை விட என் மதமே பெரிது என்று பகிரங்கமாக பேசிய அரசு மருத்துவர் பதவி நீக்கம் செய்யப்படவில்லை ஆனால் தேசபக்தியோடு செயல்பட்டவர் மீது நடவடிக்கை pic.twitter.com/PaU8iB0uYH
— Arjun Sampath (@imkarjunsampath) August 7, 2023
This controversy has also highlighted another case involving a senior IAS officer named Umashankar, who openly advocated Christianity during public meetings, defying service rules. Interestingly, despite calls for action, both the DMK and AIADMK governments refrained from taking any punitive measures against Umashankar for his alleged religious promotion while serving as a government official.
The selective action against officers expressing pro-Hindu sentiments has raised concerns about bias and equity in dealing with religious matters involving government personnel. On social media platforms and among the general public, calls for consistent treatment regardless of religious affiliation have gained traction. Demands have been made for an end to perceived discrimination against pro-Hindu officers and for fair handling of all such cases.
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.