Latest news with #Keeladi
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP govt's refusal to release Keeladi report an attack on Tamil culture: CM
Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin said the Union govt's refusal to publish Keeladi report even after two years of its submission was an attack on Tamil culture. "The Union BJP government, which seeks to suppress the cultural pride of Tamils by delaying the release of Keeladi excavation findings, has returned the final report submitted two years ago citing the need for additional evidence. This is a blatant attack by the BJP regime on Tamil culture," he said in a letter to cadres. Stalin said the Union govt's decision to turn down the report despite scientific backing, even as it continues to promote the 'imaginary' Saraswati civilisation which lacks scientific evidence, speaks about 'BJP's hatred for TN'. "Till now, the BJP has not been able to prove the existence of Saraswati civilization through any scientific methods. On the other hand, every artifact unearthed from the Keeladi, has undergone rigorous internationally accepted scientific analysis," he said. Stalin also hit out at the AIADMK, alleging the party was silent despite Tamil cultural identity being suppressed. "Keeladi excavations took place when the AIADMK was in power in Tamil Nadu. However, the AIADMK has remained silent on the racial and linguistic hegemony shown by BJP by rejecting the Keeladi findings," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Stalin said AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami was silent because he had mortgaged his party to BJP. He charged that a former AIADMK minister had gone to the extent of describing Keeladi, a Tamil civilization as 'Bharat civilization,' in a bid to please the BJP. Stalin said that TN govt has proven, through international studies on the antiquity of iron, that Tamil culture dates back more than 5,300 years. "It was the Dravidian model govt that released those findings. Yet, not a single tweet has been made by the Prime Minister or any BJP leader regarding the findings that establish the ancientness of Tamil culture," he said.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Attempt being made to disturb Madurai's tradition of social harmony
Madurai has a tradition of social harmony where equality and brotherhood is followed. The Sangh Parivar is conducting the Lord Murugan devotees conference in Madurai to disturb this harmony and keeping the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections on their mind, said VCK president and Chidambaram MP Thol. Thirumavalavan, on Thursday. Addressing the gathering at the Human Chain protest organised in Madurai by the members of Madurai Madha Nallinakka Makkal Kootamaipu, Mr. Thirumavalavan said that BJP, Hindu Munnani and the Sangh Paraivar who have never voiced for the public with respect to several issues had earlier tried to divide the people through the Tirupparankundaram issue. Now, they are attempting to disturb harmony though the conference. They have never spoken for precedence to Tamil in the temple rituals and are taking steps to eliminate the findings of Keeladi and Tamil civilization. The Sangh Parivar is trying to use the method which is being used by them in the North to divide the people. The people of Tamil Nadu should stay united and oppose the attempt being made to disturb communal harmony, he said. Advocate S. Vanchinathan, the Coordinator of the forum, said that the conference organised by Hindu Munnani is not a religious conference, but was a political conference targeting the 2026 Assembly elections. Mixing religion and politics is dangerous. In the North, they divided the people in the name of Lord Ram and here they want to do the same in the name of Lord Murugan, he said. He urged the State government to monitor the conference and ensure that communal harmony is not disturbed. Earlier, Mr. Thirumavalavan visited Tirupparankundram and interacted with the people. Addressing media persons, he said that an attempt had been made to divide the people. But, there was no enmity between the people and they have remained united.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Centre continuously hindering TN development: CPM
Madurai: A 'Nadaipayanam Pracharam' (walk campaign) was taken out in Madurai by CPM cadres on Wednesday and Thursday condemning the 'anti-people' policies of the BJP-led Union govt. The party said that Tamil Nadu's development through projects and schemes were being hindered at every step. The campaign was conducted by CPM cadres at 10 places on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. In his inaugural address on Wednesday, MP Su Venkatesan charged the central govt and BJP with deliberately stalling several developmental projects, either temporarily or indefinitely. "Since Tamil Nadu is a progressive and secular state and their efforts to disrupt communal and religious harmony are not working, BJP is targeting developmental projects of Tamil Nadu, by shifting new ones or stalling existing projects. The Madurai AIIMS project, even after six years, is now only 25% complete. But, even for one brick, we fought tooth and nail," he said. The MP said several railway projects like the Madurai-Thoothukudi new line via Aruppukottai were stalled for years. "BJP is clearly rejecting Tamil culture and history through rejecting the Keeladi findings. They are also rejecting Tamil Nadu's development and neglecting its welfare. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo In Madurai alone, Rs160 crore was denied to workers by not releasing MGNREGA funds," he said. The central govt is betraying Tamil Nadu by only giving back Rs0.29 in return for paying a tax of Rs1, while states like Bihar are getting even Rs7 in return. During their walk campaign, CPM cadres highlighted various local issues, such as the need for infrastructure development in Madurai, speeding up work for establishing metro rail, need for establishing heavy industries in the region, and the establishment of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in Madurai.
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Opposition slams DMK for Edappadi Palaniswami's caricature over Keeladi silence
The AIADMK has hit out at the DMK IT Wing for sharing a caricature of its general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), depicting him in a disrespectful post, shared on social media platform X, showed EPS sleeping in his underwear with a caption that mocked him for caring neither about Keeladi nor 'thaai madi' (mother's lap), but only about 'Modi madi' (Prime Minister Modi's lap). advertisementThe caricature appears to have been shared in the context of the ongoing political row over the Keeladi excavations, where the DMK has accused the BJP of undermining Tamil history, a stand the AIADMK, as BJP ally, is seen as not opposing strongly. AIADMK spokesperson Singai Ramachandran condemned the DMK's post and criticised Tamil Nadu Minister TRB Raja, who oversees the party's IT Wing. 'TRB Raja should be ashamed to share such an indecent picture of the Opposition Leader,' Ramachandran said. 'Don't you have any respect? Would you accept such a post if it featured your father or Chief Minister Stalin?'He added that the AIADMK is not scared of the DMK's digital team, but urged them to 'maintain decency'. Warning of consequences, Ramachandran said, 'Stop this or be ready to face the consequences. If TRB Raja has the guts, let him meet us on stage and debate us with opinions, not likes.'The DMK's official page had put out a post asking why Palaniswami was silent on the issue. 'Open your mouth and speak, Palaniswami,' the post said, claiming that even as scientific studies confirm Keeladi's antiquity, the BJP is trying to erase Tamil history. 'Or is it because he fears his master will dust off old cases?'Must Watch IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Archaeologist leading Keeladi excavation loses key role amid ongoing row
Archaeologist K Amarnath Ramakrishna, known for leading the Keeladi (also known as Keezhadi) excavation in Tamil Nadu, has been relieved from his role as Director (Antiquity) in the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and will now serve exclusively as Director of the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA), headquartered in Greater transfer, which marks Ramakrishna's 12th in 21 years of service, comes at a time when political tensions between the BJP-led central government and the Tamil Nadu government continue over the interpretation and release of findings from the Keeladi part of his reassignment, Ramakrishna will now operate from NMMA's Greater Noida office, stepping away from ASI headquarters in New Delhi. The Director (Antiquity) role, which he vacated, involved broader responsibilities including the protection, registration, and repatriation of antiquities. In comparison, the NMMA position is seen by ASI insiders as more limited in scope. Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK has condemned the move, calling it 'authoritarian' and 'outrageous.'DMK MP and senior advocate P Wilson posted on X criticising the transfer, stating that Ramakrishna faced pressure from the Centre to alter findings and refused. Wilson alleged the government is attempting to bring in a more compliant officer to dilute the excavation's Naik, the official who had earlier directed Ramakrishna to revise his Keeladi report with additional data, has been given additional charge as Director (Antiquity). It was reportedly Naik's letter, sent nearly two-and-a-half years after the submission of the excavation report, that had sparked criticism from the DMK and allied parties, who accused the Centre of deliberately delaying the publication of the Minister MK Stalin had earlier voiced strong objections over central interventions related to the excavation, accusing Union ministers of disrespecting Tamil Nadu's contributions. Stalin also referenced Keeladi in recent public speeches, questioning the lack of appreciation for the discovery of what is believed to be the earliest Iron Age civilisation in the Keeladi excavation, located in Sivaganga district near Madurai, has been highlighted by Tamil Nadu leaders for pushing back the Sangam Age timeline to around 800 BCE, older than previously believed. However, the Centre has called for further data and evidence before making such historical claims official. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat recently reiterated that the Centre supports scientifically proven research but accused the DMK government of politicising the findings and not cooperating fully with ongoing NMMA was launched in 2007 during the UPA government to create a database of India's built heritage and archaeological sites. The project, initially expected to conclude in five years, has faced significant delays due to financial and administrative constraints.
