Since assuming power in May 2021, the ruling DMK government has never been on the back foot, as they enjoyed the support of mainstream media and its news ensures that anti-DMK news does not appear on satellite channels.
Several satellite channel anchors acted as the DMK spokesperson. Almost all debates on leading news channels like Thanthi TV, Puthiyathalaimurai, News7, and News18 now have DMK and its supporters and opposition in a 4:1 or 3:1 ratio, with anchors siding with DMK spokesperson.
It’s no surprise that the BJP and ADMK, Tamil Nadu’s main opposition parties, boycotted all television debates a few years ago.
Despite the support of mainstream media, the DMK is now on the defensive for almost a month now, owing primarily to social media, which took to the people and exposed this incompetent DMK government.
In this month, anti-DMK government sentiment has peaked and been visible among the people. This all started when several men from the Ambasamudram police division came forward and claimed that Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Balveer Singh IPS tortured them by removing their teeth with cutting pliers. They also claimed the ASP tortured two more people by crushing their testicles.
However, the DMK government attempted to save ASP Balveer Singh by not registering an FIR. DMK government formed a committee under Sub Collector Alam, batchmate of the accused Balveer Singh, to investigate the charges against the ASP. To delay the proceedings further, the DMK government formed another committee under senior IAS officer Amudha.
However, in response to public and opposition party pressure, the DMK government was forced to file an FIR against Balveer Singh IPS. This was the first issue that heightened anti-government sentiment, which had previously been suppressed by the mainstream media.
Assessing public anger towards them, the DMK government used the Kalakshetra protest to divert attention away from its failures. Through its friendly media, DMK portrayed the Kalakshetra protest as an issue against Brahmins, which is their forte. They couldn’t, however, use the Kalakshetra issue to divert attention because none of the accused in the Kalakshetra were Brahmins.
Other incidents that resulted in the setback for the DMK government are as follows:
Breakdown Of Law And Order
On March 30, police arrested two siblings in Vizhuppuram, charged with murdering a shop employee and assaulting three others. The accused were identified as G. Rajasekar (33) and his younger brother, G. Vallarasu (24) of Periyacolony, Vizhuppuram. The two brothers who were under the influence of the drugs, committed the crime in broad daylight and one of the accused in the case was wearing a T-Shirt with MK Stalin’s image printed on it.
Setback For DMK As SC Allows RSS March
In a major setback for the DMK government in Tamil Nadu, on April 11th, the Supreme Court of India has granted permission to the Rashtriya Swayam sevak sangh to take out marches in the state. The decision has come as a setback for the state government which had initially appealed in the High Court to stop the RSS marches and the High Court had also given the decision in favor of the RSS.
DMK & Allies Backflip In Governor Issue
Adding to the list of backflips by the ruling DMK, the Secular Progressive Alliance, led by the DMK on April 11th, has called off a massive protest against Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi in front of Raj Bhavan. Instead of protesting in front of Raj Bhavan, the Secular Progressive Alliance has announced a public meeting in Saidapet’s Theradi Thidal. According to the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), Ravi’s speeches and activities have been controversial and mysterious since assuming office in 2021. Following Governor RN Ravi’s speech to aspiring civil servants in which he claimed that the Sterlite and Koodankulam protests were funded by foreign elements, the SPA announced its protest.
Annamalai’s DMK Files
On April 14, Annamalai revealed the details of ₹1.34 lakh crores in property amassed illegally by the DMK leaders while in power. As part of the first list, Annamalai released the property details of the first 12 DMK leaders. This list of DMK leaders’ assets infuriated the general public.
DMK’s Controversial Christian Reservation Resolution:
The DMK Government led by Chief Minister MK Stalin passed a resolution in the Legislative Assembly on April 19th, urging the Central Government to bring amendments in the laws to give reservation to the Adi Dravidians who have converted to Christianity. This was seen as an attempt to incentivize conversion from Hinduism to Christianity, which was criticized by the general public and the BJP.
PTR’s alleged audio clip:
On April 19th, an audio clip alleged to be that of Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan has surfaced on social media in which he accuses members of MK Stalin’s family of making more money in one year than they’ve made during their life time. PTR was heard saying that TN CM MK Stalin’s son Udhayanithi and son-in-law Sabareesan amassed 30,000 crores in a year. This alleged audio of TN Finance Minister PTR added credence to Annamalai’s accusation that the DMK illegally amassed 1.34 lakh crores of public money. This created a more negative image on DMK.
Another audio clip surfaced on 25 April 2023 in which PTR abused his own partymen and also hinted that Udhayanidhi Stalin and Sabarisan are “taking the bulk of the spoils”.
DMK’s Double U-Turn
Following pressure from alliance partners, the MK Stalin-led DMK government in Tamil Nadu has made a U-Turn on labor law amendments, halting implementation of recently amended labor laws that allow for 12-hour work shifts. The passage of amendments to the labor law was itself seen as a U-turn by the DMK, as they had previously opposed amending labor laws to increase working hours while being an opposition party in 2020.
In another U-Turn, Senthilbalaji, the DMK Minister in charge of liquor sales in Tamil Nadu announced that marriage halls won’t be provided a license to serve liquor. This U-Turn came after the DMK government passed a GO that allowed for serving liquor in conference halls, convention centers, marriage halls, banquet halls, sports stadiums, and household functions if they get special licenses.
G Square Raids
As I write this, the Income Tax Department is raiding real estate company G-Square, which allegedly has close links to the DMK’s first family.
Inspite of these many setbacks, most of the Tamil media focused on actor Vijay entering politics and O Panneerselvam’s Trichy public meeting in their prime time debates.
It is worth noting that all of these DMK issues were brought to light via social media, while the mainstream media attempted to shield the DMK. The release of the ‘DMK Files’ by the Tamil Nadu BJP president was aired on national media. Most of the national media’s prime-time debates revolved around the DMK Files and Annamalai. However, Annamalai’s DMK Files were not even live-streamed by Tamil mainstream media in order to protect their paymaster DMK.
Now that the DMK government has suffered a string of setbacks this month, despite cover-ups by Tamil mainstream media, the DMK government will revert to their tried-and-tested diversionary tactic.
In the coming days, we can expect either a Tamil celebrity or DMK leader, such as Kanimozhi, to rake up Hindi imposition or incite North vs South propaganda. Or we’ll have A Raja and Thirumavalavan resort to abuse Hindus and Hinduism.
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