The DMK government has arrested a Hindu activist who called for removing Periyar statues intentionally placed in front of temples. An office bearer of Hindu Munnani, Kanal Kannan, had said that only the day when the Periyar statue in front of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple is broken would be the day of Hindu uprising.
Hindu Munnani, a leading Tamil Hindu organisation, conducted a month-long yatra to spread awareness about Hindu rights in July. In the closing ceremony of the yatra, Kanal Kannan, a well-known Stunt Director in Kollywood and the State President of the Arts wing of Hindu Munnani, spoke about Periyar aka EV Ramasamy’s(EVR) statues intentionally installed in front of temples.
He said, “Nearly one lakh devotees come to worship Sri Ranganatha Swamy every day. But when they come out there is a statue of one who said “there is no god” welcoming them. Only the day on which it is broken will be the day on which the real Hindu uprising would have taken place”.
His speech was widely shared on social media and attracted the attention of Periyarists, who filed complaints against him. Based on a complaint from Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam he was booked under Sections 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 505(1)(b) (with intent to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or whereby any person may be induced to commit an offense against the State or against the public tranquility) of the Indian Penal Code.
He had applied for anticipatory bail, but it was rejected. He has been arrested and sent to judicial custody till August 26. Hindu Munnani staged protests across the state, demanding his release.
The DMK government has been trying to suppress those who criticise and speak up against the Dravidian ideology through such intimidating techniques. Earlier, YouTubers Karthik Gopinath, Maridhas, Kishore K Swamy, Seethayin Mainthan aka Dakshinamurthy, Sattai Durai Murugan, and many more were incarcerated for criticising and exposing the Dravidian ideology and Dravidian Model governance.
