A major controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu after SS Sivasankar, a minister from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by MK Stalin, claimed there is no historical evidence of Lord Ram’s existence. Sivasankar made the remarks during an event celebrating Chola emperor Rajendra Chola’s birth anniversary in Ariyalur.
Sivasankar’s Statement
DMK’s sudden obsession with Bhagwan Shri Ram is truly a sight to behold—who would’ve thought?
Just last week, DMK’s Law Minister Thiru Raghupathy avl declared that Bhagwan Shri Ram was the ultimate champion of social justice, the pioneer of secularism, and the one who proclaimed… pic.twitter.com/z8or4AQQML
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) August 2, 2024
Sivasankar asserted, “We have evidence and historical records of Rajendra Chola, including ponds he constructed, temples he built, and mentions in scripts and artefacts. However, there is no historical record or evidence for Lord Ram’s existence. Describing Ram as an avatar is an attempt to manipulate history and present it as superior to our own.”
BJP’s Criticism
The BJP quickly condemned Sivasankar’s comments. Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai criticized the DMK for what he described as a sudden and inconsistent stance on Lord Ram. Annamalai highlighted a recent statement by DMK’s Law Minister Thiru Raghupathy, who had praised Lord Ram as a champion of social justice and secularism.
In his response, Annamalai accused the DMK of selectively remembering history, noting their previous opposition to the installation of the Chola Dynasty Sengol in the new Parliament Complex. He suggested that DMK leaders should reconcile their views on historical figures and advised Sivasankar to learn more about Lord Ram from his party colleague.
The exchange has intensified the ongoing political debate in Tamil Nadu, drawing sharp lines between the DMK and BJP over interpretations of history and cultural heritage.