The Nagaland Bharatiya Janata party have strongly condemned and expressed dismay over DMK leader RS Bharathi remarks allegedly branding the Nagas as “dog eaters”.

Advisor, Prison and Printing & Stationery and BJP state Vice President Kropol Vitsu, said the remarks made by former Rajya Sabha member and Organizing Secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Party, RS Bharathi is a racist attack against the Nagas while taking a dig at Tamil Nadu Governor R.N Ravi

A video had gone viral on social media platforms a few days ago, where the DMK leader was seen making scathing attacks against the Nagas as ‘dog eaters’. The incident happened in an event of the DMK commemorating 100th birth anniversary of the former DMK Chief M. Karunanidhi.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan issued a statement, in which Governor Ravi issued a statement urging Bharathi not to hurt a community of which the country is proud.

“Nagas are brave, honest and dignified people. Thiru RS Bharathi, a senior DMK leader, publicly insulting them as ‘dog eaters’ is scurrilous and unacceptable. I urge Mr Bharathi not to hurt a community of which the whole of India is proud,” Ravi said.

Tamil Nadu Governor R.N Ravi had also served as a Governor in Nagaland from 1 August 2019 to 9 September 2021 and was also the interlocutor to Naga peace talks.

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Vitsu, said the implication of the Naga identity as ‘dog eaters’ by DMK leader RS Bharathi has enraged the Nagas. The saffron party reminded the DMK leader that the ethnicity and race of a community is never defined by its food habits. So, also Bharathi has no right whatsoever, to insult the identity of the Nagas basing on its food habits.

“This is nothing but a serious racial discrimination against the Nagas and the BJP Nagaland will leave no stone unturned till Mr. Bharathi is punished as per the law of the land,” said Vitsu.

State BJP VP pointed out that it is the Naga culture and social practice since time immemorial to perform religious rites with dog meat that can also be seen even today in village gates.

Questioning Bharathi’s motive in saying that Nagas are ‘dog eaters’, Vitsu said it is against the fundamental rights and also it amounts to committing sacrilege to the people of Nagas.

The BJP Nagaland finds it appalling that a senior DMK leader like Bharathi would stoop so low as to pass extreme racist attack against a community that he knows nothing about, said Vitsu adding that Nagas are warriors in our own way and will always stand together when the very existence of us as a people is being questioned.

“We are known for our rich cultural heritage and uniqueness as a Nation under the Union of India, and that can never be erased or brushed off by some crazy and irresponsible leaders like Bharathi,” he said.

While appreciating the Governor of Tamil Nadu RN Ravi for supporting Nagas as he said “Nagas are brave, honest and dignified people”, Vitsu also questioned that when DMK has some unresolved issues with its Governor, what made Bharathi to drag in the name of Nagas in the matter that too with insulting remarks? Does he think Nagas are weak and gullible people that they will not mind about it? His unprovoked remark is highly condemnable by one and all and it cannot be forgotten.

Vitsu also viewed the latest political gimmicks played by DMK leader, a Congress led I. N.D. I Alliance partner, insulting the very dignity of the Nagas as ‘dog eaters’ is “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, said Vitsu.

Adding more salt to the injury, the saffron party said, R S Bharathi had the nerve to comment further that he had in no way offended the Nagas but instead, he was only praising the Nagas when he passed the racist ‘dog eaters’ remarks.

Further, it questioned as to why Congress allowed its I.N.D.I.A bloc partner DMK to cast aspersions not only against the Nagas but demean the whole ethnic groups having diverse cultures and practices in India. This is nothing but racial discrimination in its highest degree and BJP shall in no way tolerate such racism, the party added.