A Raja ‘Shudras, Hindus, prostitutes’ remark: BJP accuses him of ‘defaming Hindu women’, DMK calls comment ‘need of the hour’

In July, there was an uproar after A Raja had spoken of secession and warned the BJP-led Centre not to “force the DMK to push for the demand for a separate Tamil Nadu”.

The DMK, in its reply to the BJP’s remarks over the current controversy, said the comments of A Raja on Shudras — those belonging to castes that form part of the fourth and lowest tier of the fourfold Hindu varna system — were “the need of the hour”.

Sorry state of political discourse in Tamil Nadu. @arivalayam MP has yet again spewed hatred against one community with the sole aim of appeasing others.

Very very unfortunate mindset of these political leaders who think they own Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/UntspDKdQ3

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) September 12, 2022

What did A Raja say?

In the 40-second video clip, A Raja said, “The Supreme Court says if you are not Christian or Mulsim or a Parsi, you should be a Hindu. Will any other country have such cruel laws? As long as you are a Hindu, you are a Shudra; as long as you are a Shudra, you are the son of a prostitute; as long as you are a Hindu, you are a Panchaman [Dalit]; as long as you are a Hindu, you are untouchable,” he said.

“How many of you want to be the son of a prostitute? How many of you want to be untouchables? Only by asking these questions loudly can we break the roots of Sanatana Dharma, and it is time that this is done by Viduthalai [Dravidar Kazhagam mouthpiece], Murasoli [DMK’s newspaper], Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Dravidar Kazhagam, he added.

DMK defends A Raja remarks

After Annamalai criticised the remarks on Twitter, DMK spokesperson and lawyer V Kannadasan told South First that the comments by A Raja on Shudras were the need of the hour, and there was nothing wrong with what he had said.

“Raja had mentioned what happened and what was there in the Manusmriti. Can the BJP deny that? Raja had pointed out the insults Shudhras faced, the equality, education, employment, and entry to temples that Manusmriti denied,” he said.

“Why is the BJP crying foul over this? Was he not voicing out for Hindus? It is evident that the BJP is not the party for all Hindus, and they don’t want others to speak the truth. Raja had told how Manusmriti treated Shudras, who are also Hindus. The BJP cries foul over it because it is a party that is for Brahmin supremacists and so doesn’t want the plight of the lowest class, the Shudhras, to be told to others,” he alleged.

Kannadasan added that the BJP is a party that does politics with religion.

After the video went viral, A Raja put out another tweet on 13 September, in which he added to his earlier remarks and said, “Who are Sudras? Are they not Hindus?”

Who are Sudras? Are they not Hindus? Why they have been insulted in Manusmrithi denied equality, education, employment and Temple entry. Dravidian Movement as saviour of 90% Hindus questioned and redressed these, cannot be anti-Hindus.

— A RAJA (@dmk_raja) September 13, 2022

‘Hindu women defamed’: BJP

Tamil Nadu BJP vice president Karu Nagarajan told South First that the remarks by A Raja were derogatory and had defamed the whole Hindu community in the state.

The former Union minister’s remarks had led to anger among BJP leaders and workers and the party has filed a complaint with the police over the comments.

“It was derogatory to talk like that, and we strongly condemn his anti-Hinduism activities,” Nagarajan said.

Nagarajan also alleged that A Raja was trying to confuse the Hindus by referring to the “wrong translation” of Manusmriti by William Jones and spreading misinformation.

“According to Raja, if Shudhras are the son of prostitutes, would he say that he doesn’t want their votes? What is the need for him to talk about that now? Isn’t it an attempt to hurt the sentiments of Hindus? Who was he trying to satisfy, and can an MP talk like this?” Nagarajan said.

In one of his tweets, Nagarajan demanded the arrest of A Raja for defaming Hindu women and said whatever the MP had said would also apply to the families of the chief minister, opposition leader, MPs, and MLAs.

இந்து பெண்கள் பற்றி கேவலமாக அவதூறு பரப்பி பேசும் ஆ ராசா வை கைது செய்… அவர் சொன்னது தமிழக முதலமைச்சர் எதிர்க்கட்சித் தலைவர் எம்பிக்கள் எம்எல்ஏக்கள் உள்பட அனைத்து குடும்பத்தினருக்கும் பொருந்துமா ? @blsanthosh @annamalai_k pic.twitter.com/JY2bH5P4at

— Karu.Nagarajan (@KaruNagarajan1) September 13, 2022