DMK leader A Raja stokes controversy over Shudra remark
Chennai, Sep 13: DMK deputy general secretary A Raja stoked a controversy over his Shudra remark and drew BJP's ire with the saffron party accusing him of spewing hatred against a community to appease others.
Shudras, the Nilgiris MP claimed, were insulted in Manusmrithi and denied equality, education, employment and entry into temples.
"You are a Shudra till you remain a Hindu. You are the son of a prostitute till you remain as Shudra. You are a Panchaman (Dalit) till you remain a Hindu. You are an untouchable till you remain a Hindu," Raja said while addressing a meeting of Dravidar Kazhagam here.
In a video that went viral in social media he was heard saying "how many of you wish to stay as children of prostitutes? How many of you wish to remain untouchables? Only if we are vocal about these questions, it will become elemental in breaking Sanathana (dharma)."
The former Union Minister claimed that the Supreme Court had ruled that if one is not a Christian, Muslim or Persian, then one has to be a Hindu. "Is there any other country meting out such cruelty?" he wondered.
Raja, who took to Twitter to express his view, asked "Who are Shudras? Are they not Hindus? Why have they been insulted in Manusmrithi and denied equality, education, employment and temple entry. The Dravidian movement, as a saviour of 90% of Hindus, questioned and redressed these, cannot be anti-Hindus."
Flaying him, BJP State chief K Annamalai termed his justification as "a sorry state of political discourse in Tamil Nadu."
"@arivalayam MP has yet again spewed hatred against one community with the sole aim of appeasing others. Very, very unfortunate mindset of these political leaders who think they own Tamil Nadu," he tweeted.
BJP Mahila Morcha national president Vanathi Srinivasan said Raja has insulted the women and Hindus on numerous occasions. This time too, he has spewed venom stating that all Shudras are children of prostitutes and they will remain so until they remain in Hinduism.
Who are Sudras? Are they not Hindus? Why they have been insulted in Manusmrithi denied equality, education, employment and Temple entry. Dravidian Movement as saviour of 90% Hindus questioned and redressed these, cannot be anti-Hindus.
— A RAJA (@dmk_raja) September 13, 2022
Sorry state of political discourse in Tamil Nadu. @arivalayam MP has yet again spewed hatred against one community with the sole aim of appeasing others.
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) September 12, 2022
Very very unfortunate mindset of these political leaders who think they own Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/UntspDKdQ3
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
4 unrecognised madrasas sealed in UP's Shravasti
Lucknow, Apr 30 (PTI): Four unrecognised and illegally operating madrasas were sealed in Shravasti district on Wednesday as part of the Uttar Pradesh government's drive across districts bordering Nepal against unauthorised religious structures, an official statement said.
Besides, several temporary and permanent encroachments within a 15-km radius of the Nepal border were cleared, it said.
Till date, 36 illegal madrasas have been sealed and 131 unauthorised encroachments demolished.
A mosque in Bhartha village in Roshangarh under Bhinga tehsil, Bahraich was also razed as it was constructed on government land, the statement said.
In Pilibhit district, a special drive was carried out within 10 km of the Nepal border to remove encroachments on public land.
The operation, led by the Additional District Magistrate and Additional Superintendent of Police, did not yield any objectionable material, but confirmed encroachments were present.
In Maharajganj district, enforcement action has been taken against 13 illegal madrasas and mosques in Nautanwa tehsil.
Six illegal encroachments in Nichlaul and 14 in Farenda tehsil were also demolished there, the statement said.
In Lakhimpur Kheri, specifically in the border tehsils of Nighasan and Palia, demolition drives were carried out against an illegal mosque in Krishnanagar and an Idgah in Chandan Chowki, with full coordination between Police and Revenue officials.
In Balrampur district, one illegally occupied madrasa has been vacated, and notices have been served to five others. Encroachments on two tombs have been removed, while notices have been served to five more.
Overall, 13 illegal encroachments have been identified, and action has been taken against three, the statement said.
A case involving an unauthorised Idgah is also being processed, it said.
Investigations have revealed 20 madrasas failing to meet the required standards all of which have been shut down, it added.
Besides, two madrasas have been issued notices for failing to submit necessary documentation despite prior warnings.
In Bahraich, five encroachments were removed on Wednesday in the Nanpara and Mihipurwa tehsils.
So far, 127 illegal constructions have been demolished in the district, the statement said.
Based on a report by the Minority Welfare Officer, a madrasa was sealed on Wednesday, bringing the total number of sealed madrasas in the district to six.
In Siddharthnagar, action was taken on Wednesday against one illegal encroachment. So far, 17 such cases have been addressed in the district, including three mosques and four madrasas, the statement said.
