DMK, TN language rights war raging like whirlwind in Maharashtra: CM Stalin
Chennai, Jul 5 (PTI): The war against the imposition of Hindi being waged by the DMK and people of Tamil Nadu has transcended borders and is now raging like a whirlwind in Maharashtra, Chief Minister M K Stalin claimed on Saturday.
The BJP, which was conducting itself "illegally and anarchically" by saying that it would allocate funds only if Hindi was taught as a third language in Tamil Nadu schools, has retreated for the second time, fearing a popular uprising in Maharashtra, where it was ruling, he said.
"The upsurge and speeches of the victory celebration rally held in Mumbai today under the leadership of brother #UddhavThackeray against the imposition of Hindi are very encouraging," Stalin, who is the president of DMK, said in a lengthy post on the social media platform X.
Earlier in the day, the estranged Thackeray cousins shared a public stage after two decades at a victory rally in Mumbai to celebrate the withdrawal of two government resolutions seeking to introduce Hindi as a third language from Class 1 in state schools.
Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray said he and his cousin Raj Thackeray have "come together to stay together."
MNS chief Raj Thackeray said the three-language formula imposed by the state government was a precursor to its plan to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra as he shared the political stage with his cousin Uddhav after almost 20 years.
"I know very well that the Union Government, which has made the development of Hindi and Sanskrit its full-time priority, will have no answer to the questions raised by Raj Thackeray on what was the third language taught in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan or why Hindi-speaking states are backward, and why Hindi is being thrust on the people of progressing states that do not speak Hindi," Stalin said in the post.
He sought to know if the Centre would change its decision of revenge on Tamil Nadu for saying that it would release Rs 2,152 crore from the Integrated Education Scheme (Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan) only if the state accepted the new education policy that imposed Hindi and Sanskrit in the name of the three-language policy.
"Will it immediately release the funds that are legally required for the education of Tamil Nadu school children? The struggle waged by the people of Tamil Nadu against Hindi imposition is not only emotional but also intellectual and logical to protect India's plural culture and not out of hatred," the Chief Minister asserted.
He hoped that the 'uprising' in Maharashtra would open the eyes of those who were 'parroting' the words that one would get a job if one studies Hindi.
He further said, "We will not allow deceit in the allocation of funds to Tamil Nadu nor arrogance of refusing to recognise Keezhadi civilisation, to continue. The BJP must find a remedy for the betrayal that it is committing against Tamils and Tamil Nadu. Otherwise, Tamil Nadu will teach them and their new allies an unforgettable lesson once again," Stalin said and appealed to the people to unite and fight against injustice.
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.
Conspiracy afoot to 'tarnish' image of Dharmasthala: Deputy CM DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Aug 14 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said there was a “conspiracy” to tarnish the image of Dharmasthala.
His comments come amid an ongoing investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into serious allegations of mass burials in the revered temple town in Dakshina Kannada district.
“A conspiracy is being hatched to destroy hundreds of years of legacy. It is not correct to tarnish someone just like that. It has all happened due to one complainant,” he said.
Noting that some Congress MLAs have called for action against those involved in the slander campaign at the legislature party meeting, he said, “ I have told them that action must be taken against those who are indulging in a slander campaign. The CM has also said that action must be taken against such people.”
“I have information on this case. Religious feelings should not be hurt in any manner. Culprits must be punished,” he told reporters, according to a release from his office.
Responding to a question, Shivakumar said the Congress party will not allow the image of any religious place to be tarnished.
“We see everyone equally when it comes to religion,” he added.
The SIT, formed by the state government, is probing claims of mass murder, rape, and mass burials in Dharmasthala over the past two decades.
The complainant, a former sanitation worker whose identity has not been revealed, alleged that between 1995 and 2014 he was forced to handle bodies—including women and minors—and that some showed signs of sexual assault. He has given a statement before a magistrate.
As part of the probe, the SIT has been conducting exhumations at multiple locations identified by the complainant-witness in the forested areas along the banks of the Netravathi River in Dharmasthala, where some skeletal remains have been found at two sites so far.
