Er Kropol Vitsu with State BJP Spokesperson Thomas Magh during press conference in Kohima on November 7. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 7
Nagaland State BJP today registered protest against the ‘scathing remarks’ made by one senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader RS Bharathi allegedly referring to the Nagas as ‘Dog Eaters.’
Addressing a press conference here at State BJP office, State BJP Vice President Er Kropol Vitsu claimed that in a video that went viral on social media platforms a few days ago, former Rajya Sabha member and Organising Secretary of the DMK Party was seen making against the Nagas as ‘Dog Eaters’.
Er Vitsu, who is also advisor of Nagaland’s Prison, Printing & Stationary, said that the incident happened in an event of the DMK commemorating 100th birth anniversary of the former DMK Chief M Karunanidhi.
Bharathi has made this “racist attack” against the Nagas while taking a dig at Tamil Nadu’s Governor RN Ravi, he said. The implication of the Naga identity as ‘Dog Eaters’ by DMK leader RS Bharathi has enraged the Nagas, he maintained.
In this regard, he said, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Nagaland reminded the DMK leader that the ethnicity and race of a community is never defined by its food habits.
“So, also, Mr Bharathi has no right whatsoever, to insult the identity of the Nagas basing on our food habits,” Er Vitsu asserted, adding that it is nothing but a “serious racial discrimination” and the Party would leave no stone unturned till he is punished as per the law of the land. It is our culture and social practice since time immemorial that we perform religious rite with “Dog Meat” that can also be seen even today in villages gate, he pointed out.
Accordingly, he deemed the remarks as violation of “fundamental rights” and also amounts to “committing sacrilege to the people of Nagas.”
The vice-president further appreciated the Governor of Tamil Nadu RN Ravi for coming to the rescue of the Nagas as he said stating that “Nagas are brave, honest and dignified people” and calling Bharathi’s ‘ dog eaters’ remark as “scurrilous and unacceptable.”
However, he questioned why Bharathi had to drag the name of Nagas over the DMK’s unresolved issues with its Governor. “Does he think Nagas are weak and gullible people that they will not mind about it?” Er Vitsu posed.
The unprovoked remark is highly condemnable by one and all and it cannot be forgotten, he stated, adding that the BJP Nagaland finds it appalling that a senior leader like Bharathi would “stoop so low as to pass extreme racist attack against a community that he knows nothing about.”
The State BJP also faulted Bharathi’s clarification that he “had in no way offended the Nagas but instead, he was only praising the Nagas” when he passed the remarks and it only added “salt to injury.”
“Tried as he might to save his face; there is no way that he will go Scott free after insulting the dignity and culture of the Nagas and the entire Northeast people in general,” Er Vitsu maintained. He called the latest political gimmicks played by DMK leader, a Congress led INDI Alliance partner, as “demeaning in nature and abusive of Naga identity.”
“It not only tantamount to racial discrimination in its lowest form, but it has also questioned the very identity of the Nagas under the union of India,” he asserted.
The bone of contention here is; why has Congress allowed its alliance partner DMK to cast aspersions not only against the Nagas but demean the whole ethnic groups having diverse cultures and practices in India, he said. “This is nothing but racial discrimination in its highest degree and we shall in no way tolerate such racism,” Er Vitsu added.
