Chennai: DMK MP and party’s Deputy General Secretary A Raja has strongly condemned actress Kasthuri’s remarks, accusing her of portraying the oppressed community as ‘criminal’ to uphold Brahmin superiority. Kasthuri allegedly said that “non-Brahmins will take bribes if they come to power” because they gain power through merit ¹. This statement has been widely criticized for degrading backward, most backward, and scheduled communities.
Raja pointed out that the protest in Chennai, claiming the Brahmin community is oppressed, denigrated Dravidian movement leaders like Father Periyar and Dr. Kalaignar to attract media attention. He believes this is an attempt to create a stigma against the DMK government under the guise of ‘Brahmins insisting on security’.
DMK Leader A Raja Denounces Kasthuri’s ‘Divisive’ Statements
Raja highlighted that under Prime Minister Modi’s rule, over 90% of Union government secretaries are Brahmins, despite other sections being more qualified. Similarly, the majority of judges are upper castes, a situation that has persisted for decades. In contrast, the Tamil Nadu government has implemented the reservation system as per law, giving posts based on educational qualifications without discrimination.
Raja criticized Kasthuri’s controversial remark that “Telugars are servants of the Andhapurathu” and accused her of trying to establish herself in cinema and politics by degrading other communities. He views this as another manifestation of Aryan supremacy.
Tamil Nadu has a history of progressive social reform, having declared the offering of women to Hindu temples illegal and passing the Devadasi Abolition Act in 1947. Raja emphasized that Aryanism will not prevail in Tamil Nadu.
The protest’s demand for a special law to protect Brahmins, similar to Scheduled Castes, has been met with skepticism. Raja noted that no minor violence has occurred against Brahmins in Tamil Nadu in the last four years, and the protest aims to create a false impression of oppression.