- Paranidharan
- BBC Tamil
A few days ago, Lok Sabha DMK member Dr. Senthil Kumar’s act of kicking out a priest who had come to perform puja according to Hindu rituals when he went to participate in a program related to lake restoration puja in Dharmapuri constituency of Tamil Nadu attracted widespread attention.
In this situation, did he try to impose the principle of denial of God in the government ceremony? BBC Tamil met Senthil Kumar, who has come to Delhi to participate in the parliamentary session, with questions like what is the reason for him to create such a stir on the field. From his interview.
Recently, you went as a guest to a program organized by the Public Works Department in Kallakurichi and you objected to Bhoomi Puja being held there according to the Hindu system? Why is that?
I have personally moved away from the place when I go to every event especially when I go to government functions as an MP when certain religious things happen. I have also said that I will participate only if it is corrected.
A government program is something that is done for all people with people’s tax money. I will tell the authorities in advance that it should be treated as general. Even so, sometimes when such actions continue, I can’t just let it go.
That’s why I thought I should put an end to it. I didn’t say anything wrong. In the government event, do it without any religious ceremony, or do it with all the people depending on the religion.
I thought that what I did like this was a start. Now it has sparked a debate.
It has been extended to other states as well. Many people are talking about it. I am hopeful that a good solution will be found.
Members of your party have participated in such events before, what is your opinion on it?
All I want to say is use common sense as Periyar said. That is. Beyond the fact that it has happened and been formal until now, self-examine whether it is right and ask “why is that?” I have been a denier of God since I was in twelfth standard. So I got used to asking questions. That’s how I raise my children.
A state function is a common event. It is for everyone. Why should everyone be dependent on only one religion? Be it Vedic system or whatever, there are village priests there. From the beginning there was a question mark as to why it had to be like this without inviting them all.
When he objected to perform puja according to the Hindu system
We keep talking about this from time to time. A lot of people follow this. Members of Parliament in our party Kanimozhi, A. Raza, N.R. Ilango, Gautam Chikamani etc. do not allow such a specific religious event.
Through such action, is the ruling DMK forcefully enforcing the principle of atheism among the people?
No. Definitely not. Because after the reasoning started by Father Periyar, Arignar Anna takes office by adopting it. If we look at the time when an artist (Karunanidhi) might come to power after him and the time of the one who might be our leader today (MK Stalin), 99 percent of DMK would be God accepters.
image source, Twitter/@DrSenthil_MDRD
Similarly, 90 percent of those who voted for DMK are religious followers. We did not compromise on that. We have never denied any religion or god.
One of the many principles that Father Periyar espoused was the denial of God. During Anna’s time, there is only one clan, only one God, and he himself said that he sees God in the smile of the poor. We continued in the same way during the artist period as well. Therefore, we should not confuse where we are protesting and our policy.
What I am talking about now is not atheism. I am talking about equality.
What is the Dravidian model in your view?
Dravidian model is our belief. It is not a particular society. It means that a man should respect his fellow man, treat him equally, and if someone wants to dominate somewhere, he will come to Dravida and definitely lend a hand to the victim. That is our Dravidian model. The Dravidian model that the Chief Minister can say is that everything should be shared.
If you look at the two biggest parties in Tamil Nadu, DMK and AIADMK, they have Dravidian in their names. But today the present Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is forced to use the word Dravidian extensively. We are where he takes that slogan and carries it forward in word and deed.
No solution has been found in the NEET issue… Now what is the next step of your party?
Even now, a query raised by academician Prince Gajendrababu to the Governor’s House under the Right to Information Act has not received a proper reply. We asked what action was taken on the resolution passed to send the NEET Exemption Bill to the President for assent. This shows that they themselves are in a position to clarify the situation.
This has again raised a question under the Right to Information Act. We will continue to put pressure on the parliament. Let’s take advantage of whatever opportunities come our way. As the process of presidential election is going on now, after it is over we will put pressure on the central government and the president again.
While many state governments have accepted and implemented the NEET exam, only the Tamil Nadu government is seeking exemption from it. Is it now legally possible to exempt NEET only for a particular state?
When the NEET Bill was launched, the clause was created during the Congress regime by saying that the governments were willing to implement it. Attempts were also made to pass the bill itself as a state exemption. So, we are still hopeful that Tamil Nadu will get exemption from this NEET Amal Act.
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