Bigwigs arrive in TN on Pongal as elections near
: On Pongal, the traditional harvest festivals of Tamils and one of the biggest festivals in poll-bound Tamil Nadu, politics took centre stage with Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda and former Congress President Rahul Gandhi in the state, seeking to demonstrate that their respective parties respect the cultural identity of a region where neither is a serious contender in the elections.
Both parties are piggybacking on their Dravidian allies, the Congress, with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the BJP with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
The last time the Congress headed a government in the state was at least five decades ago; the BJP has never ruled Tamil Nadu and is perceived to be a North Indian party that wants to impose Hindi -- the hottest of hot-button issues in the state.
Gandhi sought to leverage this. He was accompanied by DMK youth wing secretary Udhaynidhi Stalin and watched the traditional sport of Jallikattu (bull taming) in Avaniapuram, Madurai. Gandhi said the arrangements were safe for the bull and the participating youngsters.
“I’ve come here to give a message to those people who think that they can run roughshod over the Tamil people, push aside Tamil language and culture,” said Gandhi.
“It is my duty to stand by the people of Tamil Nadu and protect their history, culture and language. Today the government in Delhi is under the impression that they can destroy the culture of this country. I’m completely against the idea of one particular language, notion in this country,” he said in Madurai.
Five bull tamers entered the arena waving black flags to mark their protest against Centre’s agricultural bills, they were removed by the police. “Mark my words, these laws-the government will be forced to take
CHENNAI
them back,” Gandhi remarked.
Rahul was quickly reminded by BJP’S national secretary and the party’s Tamil Nadu in-charge CT Ravi that in 2011, the Congress called Jallikattu barbaric and sought to ban it. In December, the BJP’S ally and the ruling AIADMK government allowed Jallikattu to be conducted following Covid-19 protocols.
Nadda, sporting the traditional veshti and white shirt combo preferred by politicians in the state took part in a programme to celebrate Pongal, Namma Ooru Pongal (Our region’s Pongal) in Chennai. Nadda highlighted central schemes under the Modi-led government such as Jan dhan yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Ujjwala Yojana stating that it has benefited Tamil Nadu and supported the three new farm bills and national education policy. “The Central government has allotted ₹1,600 crore for the development of textiles and its industry, which finds a special place in Tamil Nadu. This is Aatmanirbhar Bharat, with an idea of ‘vocal for local’,” he said.
Later, he attended the 51st anniversary of Thuglak magazine edited by right-wing ideologue S Gurumurthy. Earlier, union home minister Amit Shah was to be the chief guest of this event but the organisers said that he had to cancel due to unavoidable reasons and Nadda replaced him.
Shah, however, sent a video message for the Thuglak event since he couldn’t attend it.
“There is a lot of appreciation and support for Modiji. We wish to translate it in this land also. Mainstreaming of BJP is the need of the hour and we are working towards that,” said Nadda at the event.
Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of the BJP was also in Chennai.
The offered prayers at a temple in Chennai, performed a cow-puja and participated in a community-organised Pongal celebration. He also made a surprise visit to the home of a RSS functionary where he recited a couplet from Thirukkural by Tamil saint Tiruvalluvar to the young daughter of the household. The RSS chief recited the couplet “the wound burnt by fire may heal but not the one by the tongue.” The girl thanked him by reciting another couplet.
The coming elections in the state will be the first in at least five decades to not feature any of the legendary Dravidian leaders. The AIADMK’S Jayalalithaa died in December 2016 and the DMK’S M Karunanidhi in August 2018.