The Tamil Nadu police department has transferred two cops as punishment for asking publishers to remove advertisements of anti-Hindu books sold at a book fair. They reportedly took preemptive action to avoid social unrest after the posters advertising the books went viral on social media. Hindu Munnani has claimed that they lodged a complaint about anti-Hindu books being sold at the book fair and condemned the higher authorities for transferring the cops.
The Erode district administration, in partnership with Makkal Sinthanai Peravai, organised a book fair at Chikkaiah Naicker College in Erode. Periyarist organisations had set up stalls at the fair and put up posters advertising a few books that spew hatred against Hindus and Hindu dharma. Such posters went viral on social media with users questioning whether such blatant denigration of any other religion would be allowed in any other country or even state.
Hindu Munnani, an outfit fighting against Hindu hatred and for Hindu rights, had reportedly filed a complaint against displaying anti-Hindu posters. Erode North station Inspector Shanmugam inspected the concerned stalls and found that posters were on display for books titled ‘Arthamatra Hindu Matham’ (Meaningless Hindu religion) written by Manjai Vasanthan of Dravidar Kazhagam, ‘Hindutva Pasism: Vergalum, Viluthugalum’ (Hindutva Fascism: Roots and Veins) written by Senthilathiban of MDMK. He asked those at the stall to remove the posters.
Manjai Vasanthan, a teacher by profession is one of the important Dravidianist writers. Vivek Rajagopal, a discourse analyst known as Reality Check India on X, had written a review of “Tricks of Tamil Brahmins”, a book by Manjai Vasanthan which can be read to get a sample of the vitriol Periyarists spread in the name of literature. The ‘writer’ had also ‘rebutted’ renowned archaeologist and historian Dr R Nagaswamy’s book Thirukkural espousing dharmik values.
Coming back to the issue on hand, Dravidianists took the issue to the attention of Periyarist organisations like Dravidar Kazhagam and Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam which condemned inspector Shanmugham and sought action against him. Following this, Superintendent of Police G. Jawahar transferred the inspector to the control room and special branch constable Meiyappan to armed reserve for not reporting the incident to higher officials.
A few days ago another cop, Rajendran, Sub Inspector of Pulianthope Traffic Investigation Wing Chennai was suspended after an audio shared on WhatsApp in which he allegedly said, “This is India. We have demolished a mosque and built a temple. We can and we will do that. Indians will worship at temples, conduct Pooja. We will get Sengol at the parliament. If you can, try and stop us. Christians and Muslims can try to stop us. If you can’t, then go to Pakistan or Saudi or elsewhere. This is Rama Rajyam”.
There were allegations that he was provoked by a Chrisitian cop who was in the same WhatsApp group and filed a complaint against Rajendran. As per an Indian Express report Rajendran said that people should not post communally divisive statements before posting the alleged audio. A TOI report says that his audio message was in response to one Christopher, a retired Sub Inspector and pastor in the same group. Citing these incidents Dravidianists allege that ‘sanghi’ forces have infiltrated police department and demand an ‘overhaul’.
In the recent past, ex-IPS and the present State President of TN BJP unit K Annamalai had alleged that Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Davidson Devasirvatham had a single point agenda of promoting his religion and was handpicking officers for the same. In an interview he said, “an agenda has been given to fill posts of Deputy Superintendent of Police and above ranks with a particular community”.
If one takes this into account it is not surprising that Inspector Shanmugam who merely took measures to stop any law and order issue by asking publishers to remove anti-Hindu posters has been transferred as punishment. With the clout Periyarist organisations have in running the DMK government it would be a surprise only if Shanmugham was spared for merely doing his duty.
