Indu Makkal Katchi General Secretary Gurumurthy was arrested for displaying controversial posters across Kumbakonam and portraying Dr Ambedkar in a malicious manner on Tuesday.Posters allegedly depicting BR Ambedkar in saffron robes and forehead smeared with sacred ash in Tamil Nadu’s Kumbakonam on his death anniversary on Tuesday stoked a controversy and instantaneous protest from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) members.
In Chennai, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi unveiled Ambedkar’s statue and hailed the Indian jurist, economist and political leader, as “an ardent nationalist and social reformer who laid down the foundations of modern India.”
As the posters suddenly sprang up in Kumbakonam, the VCK members staged an agitation demanding stringent action on the Indu Makkal Katchi (IMK) for their affront on Ambedkar. The IMK members, too, took to the streets claiming Ambedkar was “common” to all Indians.
The police rushed to the spot and removed the controversial posters in a bid to avoid further escalation of the open disagreement between the two groups. IMK founder Arjun Sampath contended that there was nothing wrong in the posters portraying Ambedkar as a Hindu. With a saffron coloured shirt, Ambedkar is seen adorned with a shawl in the poster.
“Ambedkar is a national leader and not confined to specific boundaries in a region. Whenever, the Hindu organisations observe his birth or death anniversaries on April 14 or December 6, certain organisations criticise the Sanathana dharma,” Sampath said when asked about the controversial posters.
“Let’s tear the mask of those who indulge in caste politics in the name of Ambedkar,” Sampath later tweeted.
அம்பேத்கருக்கு காவி நிறம் அணிவித்தது இவர்களை கோபப்படுத்துகிறது என்றால் இத்தனை நாளாக இவர்கள் அம்பேத்கர் என்ற மாமேதையை சாதி எனும் கூண்டில் அடைத்து வைத்தது சரியா? pic.twitter.com/Moxztty1Lv
— Arjun Sampath (@imkarjunsampath) December 6, 2022
Meanwhile, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan demanded the state government to take stringent action on those who put up the controversial posters and insulted Ambedkar.
The Governor, accompanied by his wife Laxmi Ravi, unveiled the statue of Ambedkar and paid floral tributes at a function held at Raj Bhavan here. Speaking on the occasion, Ravi hailed Ambedkar as the architect of Indian Constitution and revolutionary leader. “He was an ardent nationalist and social reformer who laid down the foundations of modern India,” the Governor said.
Ravi elaborated how the daring and dynamic leadership of this intellectual giant kept the nation united against the divisive forces during Independence struggle and also post-independence.
The Governor urged the students and youth to undertake study, research and explore on his thoughts, deeds and philosophy deeper. Ravi felicitated the sculptor of the statue, Kishore J Nagappa and the sponsors of the statue, Mamannar Ondi Veeran Desiya Trust, on the occasion.
Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying L Murugan, Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Welfare Minister N Kayalvizhi Selvaraj, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu, and Principal Secretary to Governor Anandrao V Patil, were among those who participated.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, BJP State president K Annamalai, were among others who paid floral tributes to Ambedkar.
