Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has strongly criticised the central government for returning the archaeological findings from Keezhadi, calling it a deliberate attempt to undermine Tamil cultural heritage. In a sharp statement, he accused the Centre of harbouring an ideological bias against the Tamil civilisation and suppressing scientifically backed discoveries that challenge dominant civilisational narratives.
Scientifically Validated Yet Politically Rejected
MK Stalin stated that every artefact from Keezhadi underwent rigorous scientific analysis at top laboratories in Pune, Bengaluru, the US, and Italy. Despite these international standards of verification, the findings were rejected by the Centre on the grounds that “more evidence” was required. Stalin saw this move as politically motivated, arguing that the BJP-led government was unable to tolerate the antiquity and uniqueness of Tamil civilisation because it contradicts the narrative of a singular Indian culture rooted in the imaginary Saraswati civilisation.
Highlighting what he called “ideological prejudice,” MK Stalin noted the silence of BJP leaders and the Prime Minister, who he said have refused to acknowledge the discovery that iron was used in Tamil culture as far back as 5,300 years ago. “Not even a tweet from them. Their silence is proof of their cultural bias,” he said.
Keezhadi Becomes a Cultural Flashpoint
MK Stalin also criticised the AIADMK, claiming that the party initiated the Keezhadi excavation but has now gone silent. He alleged that a former AIADMK minister had tried to align the findings with the broader “Bharat” narrative to appease the BJP.
Adding to the controversy, the Centre recently transferred archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna, who led the Keezhadi excavations. This move has drawn widespread criticism and further fuelled accusations of a political agenda.
The DMK has vowed to continue protests until the Centre releases the complete findings from Keezhadi. Student wings of the party have already staged demonstrations in Madurai and Chennai, while DMK MP Trichy Siva threatened to stall Parliament over the issue.
Keezhadi, located along the Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga district, has unearthed significant evidence of a sophisticated ancient Tamil civilisation, making it a focal point in the larger cultural and political conflict between the DMK and BJP.
