A banner placed in Udumalpet for Periyar's 146th birth anniversary sparked controversy by including a photo of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, causing a stir in the local community.
Coimbatore: A controversy has erupted in Udumalpet, Tiruppur district, over a flex banner placed to commemorate the 146th birth anniversary of Periyar E.V. Ramasamy. The banner, put up by the Progressive Lawyers Association, featured a photograph of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, causing a stir among locals.
The flex banners were installed in various locations across Udumalpet, including Kacheri Street and the bus stand. The controversial image on the banner shows the recent incident where the owner of Annapurna Hotel apologized to the Finance Minister, which has become a topic of heated discussion in the area.
Sadiq Basha, the coordinator of the Progressive Lawyers Association, explained the rationale behind including Sitharaman's photo. He stated, "On Periyar's 146th birth anniversary, we are taking a pledge to eradicate caste and religious authoritarianism, which is against humanity. We have linked our campaign message to the recent incident where Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and BJP members acted with casteist arrogance towards Mr. Srinivasan, the owner of Annapurna Hotel, who expressed his views at a GST meeting."
The inclusion of Sitharaman's photo on a banner meant to celebrate Periyar's birth anniversary has become a talking point in Udumalpet. Many view it as a critique of the recent controversy surrounding the Finance Minister's interaction with the hotel owner during the GST meeting.
As the debate continues, the incident highlights the ongoing tensions between different political ideologies and the sensitive nature of caste-related issues in Tamil Nadu.