Chennai: Tamil Nadu’s Milk and Dairy Development Minister Mano Thangaraj is facing flak from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state for his alleged derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) minister tweeted a picture of PM Modi, in which PM Modi was ‘bowing down’Sengol‘ (Tamil for scepter) during the inauguration of the new Parliament building on Sunday. In the caption, Thangaraj wrote: “Is he breathing? dignity? self respect?”
After this, BJP state president K.K. Annamalai tweeted: “The basis of Dravidian politics is defamation and abuse. As devious as your thoughts, as evil as your party and your abandoned ideology, there is no end to your hatred for the culture of this land, @Manothangaraj. The onion is starting to peel off faster than expected!
Speaking to ThePrint on condition of anonymity, a senior state BJP leader said, “Prime Minister Modi, before receiving the award Sengol From aadheenams (heads of Tamil monasteries), bowed before him as a mark of respect, but he has been spoken of in such a derogatory manner. We condemn it. We demand the dismissal of the minister from the cabinet and his arrest.
tradition of handing over Sengol The symbol of succession of rule has been prevalent in Tamil dynasties like Chola, Chera and Pandya. However, political analysts in the state have questioned the use of a scepter, which is a symbol of the monarchy in a democratic set-up.
The inauguration of the new Parliament building was boycotted by at least 20 opposition parties, led by the Congress, over the decision to have PM Modi preside over the opening ceremony instead of President Draupadi Murmu.
The same day, wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sangeeta Phogat were taken into custody by the Delhi Police when they attempted to march towards the new Parliament House to protest against BJP MP and former wrestling federation Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Did. Heads of India who have been accused of sexual harassment.
The detention of the wrestlers only served to increase the opposition’s criticism against the ruling BJP.
ThePrint reached Thangaraj via call for a response. The report will be updated upon receipt of a response. Meanwhile, the tweet has been deleted from his account.
(Editing by Zinnia Ray Chowdhury)