Stalin countering BJP with social justice. He won’t succeed with silence on issues like hijab

In the just lately held Tamil Nadu city physique elections, we noticed the DMK document a thumping victory. Whereas the ‘Dravidian inventory’ ridicules and mocks Tamil Nadu BJP for its efficiency, the latter is rejoicing with 308 seats, together with all city panchayats, municipalities and firms, and a vote share of 5.41 per cent. The social gathering’s efficiency tells that rather a lot labored for them regardless of the sturdy anti-BJP sentiment prevalent within the state.

The DMK and Tamil Nadu can stay in denial concerning the BJP’s rising footprint within the state however the longstanding narrative of DMK Vs AIADMK is now turning right into a DMK Vs BJP contest. Making the BJP their major enemy can be a tactic of M.Ok. Stalin’s social gathering to cut back AIADMK right into a weak drive. The state has most likely by no means seen this stage of polarisation within the final 20 years.

The DMK has been enjoying the ‘progressive’ card, not by any significant motion, however by anti-BJP, anti-Modi and anti-Brahmin politics, and appeasement. Criticising BJP-Modi-Brahmins is a straightforward strategy to be recognised as a ‘progressive’ social gathering.

One of many marketing campaign movies of Tamil Nadu BJP had captured this DMK technique completely. Important of the DMK for issues within the state, a person dressed up as a DMK employee says: ‘Inform them (individuals) BJP will come’.

நேர்மையான ஆட்சியாளர்கள் அமையட்டும் ..#தமிழகமெங்கும்_தாமரை pic.twitter.com/6kunL4WWeo

— BJP Tamilnadu (@BJP4TamilNadu) February 18, 2022

Additionally learn: BJP entry in Tamil Nadu local body polls shows Modi-Shah can leave state unit alone

The hypocrisy of social justice politics

Exterior Tamil Nadu, the DMK is being celebrated because the epitome of social justice. On the Republic Day, chief minister Stalin introduced the ‘All India Federation for Social Justice’ and invited a bunch of leaders to affix the federation, basically a attain out to non-BJP leaders. Stalin has really picked up the social justice baton, says senior journalist and columnist Dilip Mandal, in his article for ThePrint. Senior journalist Prabhu Chawla says ‘he (Stalin) has taken the result in forge a political various to the NDA’. However these commentators ought to additionally know that Stalin rallied behind Rahul Gandhi, a frontrunner who proclaimed himself to be a ‘janeudhari Brahmin’ within the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Whereas non secular polarisation in Hindi-speaking states could also be extra pronounced in comparison with Tamil Nadu, it doesn’t make the image rosy within the southern state, particularly going by the current incidents beneath the Stalin authorities. It’s in Tamil Nadu that 40 Dalits were recently converted to Islam due to discrimination by caste Hindus. It’s in Tamil Nadu that Ambedkar statues are caged for their very own security, once more from caste Hindus. And it’s in Tamil Nadu that a law student from the Muslim community is tortured in the police custody, allegedly, for not carrying masks. DMK can’t flip a blind eye to such incidents by merely romanticising the ‘Dravidian model’, a time period more and more gaining forex just lately. It has turn into a ritual for the DMK IT wing to bulldoze any argument that comes their manner, with comparisons from the Hindi heartland states.

Additionally learn: NEET to temples, Stalin’s Tamil Nadu has a new social justice formula — Mandal plus market

NEET and its political pitch

The DMK has used the NEET concern to up its ante in opposition to the Narendra Modi authorities and enhance its enchantment among the many individuals. This was additionally the centrepiece of DMK’s 2021 meeting election marketing campaign that introduced them to energy. Whereas the end-goal for what they’re struggling is rational and pertinent, the entire concern has now been made to appear like a tussle between the Governor (seen as a consultant of the Union authorities) and the state authorities. Earlier in January, the DMK accused residence minister Amit Shah of repeatedly ‘denying appointment’ for the all-party illustration on the difficulty.

This was adopted by DMK’s mouthpiece Murasoli attacking the Governor for his remarks on the NEET concern and two-language coverage. The article mentioned that the Governor can’t behave like a “huge brother” and warned that “it isn’t Nagaland, however Tamil Nadu”. When the Governor returned the Invoice for reconsideration, stating that the Justice A.Ok. Rajan Committee report was a “jaundiced view”, Stalin tweeted saying, “I’m considering of the phrases he (Annadurai) roared years in the past: ‘does a goat want a beard, does a rustic want a governor?”

பேரறிஞர் அண்ணாவின் 53-ஆவது நினைவுநாளில், “ஆட்டுக்குத் தாடியும், நாட்டுக்கு ஆளுநரும் தேவையா?” என்று அண்ணா அவர்கள் அன்றே காரணத்தோடு எழுப்பிய கேள்வியை எண்ணிப் பார்க்கிறேன்.#StandForStateRights pic.twitter.com/ObhQ9UG8IX

— M.Ok.Stalin (@mkstalin) February 3, 2022

Additionally learn: Chennai will soon have a Dalit woman mayor. Its symbolism is unmissable

Tokenism and headline administration

After a lady from Narikurava tribe was denied Annadhanam, the Hindu Spiritual & Charitable Endowment minister P.Ok. Sekar Babu dined with her. Stalin himself visited the lady’s home.

In one other incident, 20 clergymen of Chidambaram temple have been booked beneath SC/ST Act for stopping a Dalit lady from getting into the shrine.

Does all this imply DMK is spearheading the anti-caste motion?

In each these circumstances, the oppressor is a Brahmin and solely such circumstances shall be talked about. There are additionally atrocities which are propagated by non-Brahmin caste Hindus. Even when they have been dealt with rightfully, they might not be bragged about and made to pattern. The narrative set right here solely permits non-Brahmin caste Hindus to additional their aggression.

A basic case of headline administration is Dalits not being allowed inside Selliamman Temple in Tindivanam, which is seemingly run by Vanniyars. No case was filed by the authorities. The therapy meted out to over 50 households residing on the Egmore pavement in Chennai should additionally discover point out. Whereas they have been promised a resettlement, they have been made to languish in makeshift association and even delivered meals in a trash collection auto.

Those that can see by the DMK’s social justice narrative, establish it as persevering with hegemony of non-Brahmin caste Hindus over the decrease castes. The true anti-caste motion for Stalin’s DMK ought to begin by fulfilling the long-pending demand for a separate laws to guard inter-caste {couples} in opposition to honour killings. It was reported that 300 circumstances of caste killings occurred between 2016 and 2020, among the many highest within the nation. From Dr. Thol. Thirumavalavan, the VCK president who’s a part of the DMK alliance, to a sufferer turned activist, Kausalya, this demand has been repeatedly introduced earlier than the state authorities. The true sense of social justice lies in enacting particular laws like this. It lies in redistribution of Panchama lands, and correct political illustration of the oppressed neighborhood inside the social gathering. The DMK can’t simply go round chest-thumping what Karunanidhi did for these communities, making it appear each time that they’re the saviours of the decrease castes — a transparent case of ‘savarna saviour complicated’. The DMK celebrates that Chennai will see a Dalit lady mayor. However the 50 per cent illustration to girls within the native physique was introduced by former chief minister late J. Jayalalithaa.

The chief minister who proclaimed ‘I will protect you like a father, brother’ and who has been on movies encouraging the youngsters to report any incidents of sexual abuses, particularly in faculties, won’t dare to disassociate from the #metoo accused Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu. Stalin facilitated Vairamuthu just lately on the event of his Golden Jubilee within the trade.

தமிழோடு புதுமையையும் அறிவியலையும் சேர்த்து, சிறந்து விளங்கும் கவிதைகளை- திரைப்படப் பாடல்களை தேனருவியெனக் கொட்டி, தமிழால் நம்மை நனைக்கும் கவிப்பேரரசு @Vairamuthu அவர்களது எழுத்துப் பணியின் பொன்விழா இலச்சினையை வெளியிட்டேன்.

தன் தமிழால் கவிப்பேரரசு நூறாண்டு கடந்தும் நம்மை ஆளட்டும்! pic.twitter.com/VBK9BT3Nt9

— M.Ok.Stalin (@mkstalin) February 11, 2022

The chief who arrange an All India Federation for Social Justice didn’t touch upon the a lot debated Hijab row. We may hear only some voices from the DMK management like that of Kanimozhi. For a frontrunner who’s making an attempt to forge a pan-India alliance, Stalin can’t be silent on these important points. The place social justice is spoken within the context of ladies empowerment, one must also know that Stalin’s cupboard has solely two girls ministers with no coveted portfolios.

DMK is lengthy perceived because the social gathering dedicated to social justice, however there’s a lack of egalitarianism in its actions. There’s a determined try to construct a nationwide picture for M.Ok. Stalin because the icon of social justice by hitting out on BJP-Modi-Brahmins. And it’s turning out to be one other hero-worship on the traces of Annadurai, Karunanidhi, MGR and Jayalalithaa. It’s by over-obsessing with the BJP and making them their major opponent that the DMK has helped BJP to all the time keep within the information cycle. BJP, the social gathering no Tamilian would spare any consideration is now grabbing eyeballs. It’s truly DMK that allow elephant within the room.

Aananth Daksnamurthy is an incoming Fulbright- Nehru scholar. He tweets @aananth95. Views are private.

(Edited by Anurag Chaubey)