After Lenin statue razed in Tripura, TN BJP members warn Periyar is next

The victory of the BJP-Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) alliance brought down the 25-year rule of the Left in the north eastern state. This was one of the last remaining citadels of the leftist ideology in the country, leaving Kerala as the lone state governed by Left parties. 

In a clear case of vandalism, the statue of Communist icon Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as Lenin, was razed by supporters of the BJP which now rules Tripura. The statue was razed by a bulldozer amidst chants of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. 

Hours after the statue of Lenin was brought down in Tripura, BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu celebrated the fall of the Communist government in that state, while issuing a warning to Dravidian parties.

An alarming remark was posted from the verified Facebook page of BJP National Secretary H Raja, stating, "Who is Lenin? What is his connection to India? What is the connection of communists to India? Lenin's statue was destroyed in Tripura. Today Lenin's statue, tomorrow Tamil Nadu's EVR Ramaswami's statue. "

Erode Venkata Ramasamy, who is commonly known as Periyar or Thanthai Periyar, was a social activist and politician, who started the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam. It was from here that the Dravidian ideology, parties and anti-caste movement stemmed. 

Periyar had opposed the exploitation and marginalisation of the non-Brahmin Dravidian people of south India and the imposition of what he considered Indo-Aryan India.

Reacting to the post on the Facebook page, MK Stalin said, “No one can even dare to touch EVR’s statue. H Raja’s comments are done to incite violence. He has been repeatedly doing this. He should be arrested and Goondas Act slapped against him.”

As soon as the DMK opposed the comment, H Raja distanced himself from the Facebook post and said that the page was maintained by various administrators. The post was soon deleted.

And it was not just H Raja who ‘posted’ this message with visuals of the Lenin statue being removed.

Several other members of BJP in the state, including the Vice President of BJP Youth wing SG Suryah made similar observations. 

In his tweet, Suryah says, “BJP successfully completed the fall of Lenin in #Tripura! Can't wait for the fall of EV Ramasamy statues in Tamil Nadu.”

BJP successful completed the fall of Lenin in #Tripura ! Can’t wait for the fall of EV Ramasamy statues in Tamil Nadu. Good Night all. pic.twitter.com/36S1fsPfWZ

— SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) March 5, 2018

These tweets have been shared by several BJP supporters as the country inches closer to rooting out parties whose ideology differs from the ruling and dominant right-wing discourse. 

Speaking to TNM, DMK spokesperson A Saravanan said, "This is pure hate and Talibanisation of India. Such things happen only happen in Taliban. In a democracy we don't indulge in political vandalism or threaten to do it."

The DMK has announced protests against H Raja and the BJP in many parts of the state.