‘No Historical Evidence Of Lord Ram’: Tamil Nadu Minister’s Remarks Trigger Row

Tamil Nadu minister and DMK leader SS Sivasankar said there are temples and other structures built by Rajendra Chola which prove he existed but the same could not be said about Lord Ram, about whom "there is no evidence (in history)."

Tamil Nadu Minister SS Sivasankar Friday sparked a controversy with his remarks on Lord Ram, claiming that there was “no historical evidence” which could prove the existence of the Hindu deity revered by billions in India and across the world.

Addressing an event in Ariyalur, the DMK leader said the people of Tamil Nadu are duty-bound to celebrate and honour the legacy of Chola emperor Rajendra Chola (Rajendra I), or “others will compel them to celebrate something which they have no connection to”.

Sivasankar said there are temples and other structures built by Rajendra Chola which prove he existed but the same could not be said about Lord Ram, about whom “there is no evidence (in history).”

DMK’s sudden obsession with Bhagwan Shri Ram is truly a sight to behold—who would’ve thought?

Just last week, DMK’s Law Minister Thiru Raghupathy avl declared that Bhagwan Shri Ram was the ultimate champion of social justice, the pioneer of secularism, and the one who proclaimed… pic.twitter.com/z8or4AQQML

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) August 2, 2024

“We know Rajendra Chola lived as there are many structures like ponds and temples built by him. And his name is mentioned in scriptures from that time which have been authenticated as genuine. However, there is absolutely no evidence or mention of Ram in history,” the DMK leader claimed.

He further claimed that there was a conspiracy to hide the history of Tamil Nadu by scaling “another history” to a grander level.

“They are doing this to manipulate us by hiding our history and showcasing another history as something grander. They call Ram an avatar of Lord Vishnu. We venerate him as a God, but if he is born as an avatar, then he cannot be God. This is a conspiracy to manipulate us and belittle our rich history,” the DMK Minister said.

BJP reacts

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai issued a scathing response to Sivasankar’s claims about Lord Ram questioned the DMK’s “sudden obsession” with the Hindu deity.

“DMK’s sudden obsession with Lord Ram is truly a sight to behold—who would’ve thought? Just last week, DMK’s Law Minister Thiru Raghupathy avl declared that Bhagwan Shri Ram was the ultimate champion of social justice, the pioneer of secularism, and the one who proclaimed equality for all. Fast forward to today, and we have the scam-tainted DMK Transport Minister, Thiru Shiva Shankar, boldly asserting that Lord Ram never existed, claiming it’s all a ploy to erase the Cholan history,” Annamalai wrote in a post on X, along with a video of the Ariyalur MLA’s remarks.

“Isn’t it fascinating how quickly DMK leaders’ memories fade? Weren’t they the same folks who opposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for installing the Chola Dynasty Sengol in the new Parliament Complex?,” the BJP leader asked.

“It’s almost comical that the DMK, a party that seems to think Tamil Nadu’s history started in 1967, has suddenly discovered a love for the nation’s rich culture and history,” he said.

Referring to Tamil Nadu Law Minister Raghupathy’s earlier comments wherein he called Lord Ram as the “forerunner of the Dravidian model”, Annamalai said “Perhaps it’s time for DMK Ministers Thiru Raghupathy and Thiru Shiva Shankar to sit down, debate, and reach a consensus on Lord Ram. We’re confident that Thiru Shiva Shankar could learn a thing or two about Bhagwan Shri Ram from his colleague.”