Thol Thirumavalavan, VCK leader, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from Chidambaram Constituency in Tamil Nadu by a margin of about 3,000 votes has landed himself in trouble by declaring that North Indians were not welcome in Tamil Nadu.
“They are a danger to the Tamil society,” he said while speaking at a public meeting in Chennai on Monday. Lawyers and leaders of some of the political parties described it as a hate speech and said the VCK leader was trying to divide the society in the name of caste and religion.
Thirumavalavan, a strong proponent of Dravidian rule and describes Sanatatana Dharma as a major threat to Tamil Nadu , said people from north India should not be allowed to settle down in the State. “The North Indians coming to Tamil Nadu and settling down here is dangerous to Tamil Nadu,” he said while addressing a public meeting organised at Chennai by the DMK to commemorate the 96th birth anniversary of former DMK chief M Karunanidhi.
He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the proponents of the Sanatana Dharma of encouraging North Indians to settle down in Tamil Nadu as part of the BJP’s designs to get entry into the State. More and more people from other States are settling here. It is dangerous,” said Thirumavalavan.
The Dalit leader alleged that the Ganesh Chathurthi festival and imposition of Hindi were attempts of a cultural invasion by the north Indians and ended up in failure. “Having failed in these attempts, they are making more and more people from other States to come and settles down in Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Thirumavalavan also charged that people from North India were given preference during appointments to Neyveli Lignite Corporation, Railways and other public sector enterprises. C Unnikrishnan, High Court lawyer , who is also a Constitutional expert said that Thirumavalavan has courted controversy by making unsubstantiated allegations.
“His charge that people of north India were danger to Tamil Nadu is violation of Indian Constitution. Thirumavalavan could be dragged into the court for impropriety if the reported comments are true. His motive is to create fear and hate among people of the country,” said Unnikrishnan. The lawyer pointed out the legal proceedings initiated against Kamal Haassan as well as Sadvi Pragya Thakore for their outbursts.
Narayanan Thiruppati, BJP spokesman, said he was shocked to hear the speech delivered by Thiruvalavan. “I shudder when I think about Tamils settled in other parts of the country. If people in that States too start thinking in the lines of Thirumavalavan , what is in store for out brethren in that States?” asked Narayanan who disclosed that his party was in consultation with legal experts over the course of action to be taken against Thirumavalavan. The BJP spokesman said Thirumavalavan was trying to destabilise thepce prevailing in Tamil Nadu by raking up caste and religion.
But Arjun Sampath, president, Hindu People’s Party described Thirumavalavan’s words as a precursor to secessionism. “He wants to make Tamil Nadu another Kashmir. M K Stalin, leader of the DMK should understand that persons like Thirumavalavan are a threat to the DMK as well as the country. Thirumavalavan is repeating the words of Naxalites and certain foreign funded NGOs,” said Sampath.
