Home News Zoho Founder Sridhar Vembu Goes Ballastic Against DMK

Zoho Founder Sridhar Vembu Goes Ballastic Against DMK

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The Commune
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Zoho Founder Sridhar Vembu Goes Ballastic Against DMK

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has strongly defended his recent remarks praising the Tamil Nadu government’s education sector reforms, alleging that the DMK ecosystem launched personal attacks against him after he claimed that approvals for his rural schools were delayed under the previous government due to alleged demands for bribes.

In a detailed statement posted on X, Vembu rejected allegations that he had fabricated his earlier claims to politically benefit the TVK government. He asserted that his comments were based entirely on his own experience running free rural schools in Tamil Nadu.

“The DMK ecosystem is attacking me that the school issue I reported was a lie I concocted to help the TVK government. Let me state the facts,” Vembu wrote.

Vembu explained that the trust Kalaivani Kalvi Maiyam currently operates two free National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) institutions – one in rural Tenkasi, where he resides, and another in rural Theni.

According to him, the Theni school was originally established by a retired IPS officer who had invested in building quality infrastructure for a CBSE school. However, the officer had to shut down the institution because he was unable to obtain the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC).

Vembu stated that the retired officer had informed him that government officials demanded money to issue the NOC and that, as an honest officer, he refused to pay.

“He told me that as an honest retired officer he did not have the money to pay and they would not issue the NOC otherwise,” Vembu stated.

The retired officer subsequently requested Kalaivani Kalvi Maiyam to take over the trust, following which the premises began operating as a free NIOS school, he added.

Vembu further stated that unlike the Tenkasi school, the Theni institution periodically faced difficulties because it did not possess state government registration.

When the trust later sought recognition under the Tamil Nadu State Board system, he alleged that obtaining approvals again involved monetary demands, leaving the school caught in administrative limbo.

He also described his experience while attempting to construct permanent facilities for the Tenkasi school.

According to Vembu, the trust applied for Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) approval for the new buildings but the application remained pending throughout the DMK government’s tenure.

“We waited patiently for DTCP approval for the new school buildings but the approval never came as long as the DMK was in power. The approval came automatically once the government changed,” he wrote.

Vembu added that after the change in government, approvals were granted without any demand for unofficial payments.

“Not only did the approvals come, government people told us not to pay money to anyone for any approvals. I have to appreciate this in public, having endured what we had endured before,” he said.

The Zoho founder said his earlier social media post praising the TVK government merely acknowledged what he viewed as a positive administrative change and denied accusations that he was politically motivated.

“This is the ‘lie’ that DMK wants to attack me on. I do not need their certificate on my character,” he wrote.

Vembu questioned why critics believed he would invent such allegations, stating that he is primarily a technology entrepreneur focused on software development.

“They can examine their conscience and ask why a technology nerd like me who is mostly immersed in code would post these,” he wrote.

Responding to personal attacks directed against him, Vembu said attempts to label him as a “Brahmin”, “TVK stooge” or “Sanghi” would not intimidate him.

“I will not be intimidated by their attacks. I am unafraid of death, why would I be afraid of the mere DMK?” he wrote.

He also alleged that those attacking him should instead account for money they had “looted”.

Vembu’s clarification follows the political debate triggered by his earlier posts praising the TVK government’s education reforms.

He had publicly stated that Kalaivani Kalvi Maiyam, which provides free education to rural children, experienced prolonged delays and alleged demands for bribes while seeking approvals under the previous DMK government.

According to Vembu, approvals that had remained pending were processed quickly after the TVK government assumed office.

“Our rural school Kalaivani Kalvi Maiyam, which provides completely free education to rural children, faced delays getting approvals from the previous government. Of course, significant money was demanded and we were told that was the only way, even if it is a completely free school. After @TVKVijayHQ came to power, approvals have happened quickly and automatically,” he had posted.

He also reiterated that the school had followed the normal approval process during the previous government but endured delays and alleged demands before receiving approvals after the change in administration.

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