“People should avoid making such statements”: RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav on Tamil Nadu Minister’s remarks on Lord Ram

Patna (Bihar) [India], August 6 (ANI): Days after Tamil Nadu Transport Minister and DMK leader SS Sivasankar sparked controversy with a statement about Lord Ram, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav reacted over the statement, saying that people should avoid making such statements.

Speaking to reporters, Sivasankar said, “This is not an issue. We have nothing to do with who makes what statement in their personal capacity. It is a matter of our own faith. The debates that break out over religion, are internal matters for everyone. People should avoid making such statements. Although I have not heard what he has said, if any statement hurts someone, it should not be said.”

Earlier on August 3, SS Sivasankar claimed that there was no historical evidence to prove Lord Ram’s existence.

Speaking at Chola Emperor Rajendra Chola’s birth anniversary event in Ariyalur, Sivasankar said, “We must celebrate the birthday anniversary of our great ruler Rajendra Chola, who made our land proud. We should celebrate his birthday; otherwise, people may be compelled to celebrate something that has no connection or evidence to them.”

“To show that Rajendra Chola lives on, there are ponds constructed by him, temples built by him, and his name is mentioned in scripts, sculptures, and other artefacts. We have history and evidence for it, but there is no evidence or historical record of Lord Ram’s existence. They call him (Ram) an avatar. An avatar can’t be born. It is being done to manipulate us, hide our history, and present another history as superior,” he further added.

The birthday anniversary of Chola Emperor Rajendra Chola was celebrated by the Ariyalur district administration and the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department on August 2, in Ariyalur district.

All government officials, including Transport Minister Sivasankar and District Collector Rathnaswamy, participated in the programme.

Reacting to the remark made by the Tamil Nadu Transport Minister, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai questioned DMK’s “sudden obsession with Bhagwan Shri Ram.”

“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 declared that Bhagwan Shri Ram was the ultimate champion of social justice, the pioneer of secularism, and the one who proclaimed equality for all,” Annamalai said in a post on X.

DMK had earlier found itself at the centre of a massive controversy when Minister Udhyanidhi Stali had made disparaging remarks about Sanatana Dharma in a speech.