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Sitharaman flayed DMK’s R.Rajiv Gandhi for trying to paint the Union govt as ‘anti-Tamil’ after a lawmaker expressed displeasure over CA exams coinciding with the Pongal festivities.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said some were accustomed to spreading propaganda that frames the Union government as ‘anti-Tamil’. (IMAGE: PTI)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said “some people have become accustomed to” spreading propaganda against the Union government labelling it as “anti-Tamil”.
Her comments came while commending SG Suryah, BJP Tamil Nadu state secretary, on social media site X, who in a separate post replied to DMK functionary R. Rajiv Gandhi who raised concerns over a notification issued by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan and Kanimozhi also objected to the exam schedule and demanded postponement.
சரியாகவும், விளக்கமாகவும் பதில் சொல்லியிருக்கீங்க சூர்யா அவர்களே.எதில பார்த்தாலும், எப்ப பார்த்தாலும் “தமிழ் விரோதி” ப்ரசாரம் சிலருக்கு பழக்கமாகிவிட்டது போலும். https://t.co/jMkMz8QsNV
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) November 24, 2024
The notification scheduled Business Laws and Quantitative Aptitude tests for the Chartered Accountants foundation exam on January 14 and 16, which coincide with the celebration of the Pongal festival.
Shameful obfuscation of facts.Same Pongal is celebrated as Makar Sankranti, Lohri in North, Khichdi in UP, Uttarayani in Gujarat & Rajasthan, and Maghi in Haryana & Punjab, Bihu in North Eastern States.
So Pongal is a National festival that whole India celebrates & not only in… https://t.co/XFCkhzYxi8
— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) November 24, 2024
Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan criticised the Union government for scheduling Chartered Accountants exams during Pongal, a key cultural festival in Tamil Nadu. He described the move as disrespectful to Tamil traditions and urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the ICAI to reconsider the dates. Similarly, DMK functionary R. Rajiv Gandhi accused the government of insensitivity towards Tamil cultural practices.
Both leaders demanded an immediate revision of the exam schedule to avoid overlapping with the festival.
The ICAI’s decision to hold the CA Prelims on Pongal, Tamil Nadu’s most celebrated cultural festival, is a deliberate attack on our identity and heritage. This gross insensitivity reflects their disregard for Tamil traditions and regional autonomy. I demand an immediate…— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) November 24, 2024
BJP’s Suryah in response to the claims said that Pongal, celebrated across Tamil Nadu, coincides with various harvest festivals observed in different parts of India under different names. It is known as Makar Sankranti in many northern states, Lohri in Punjab, Khichdi in Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarayani in regions like Gujarat and Rajasthan.
He said that Pongal is not just a Tamil Nadu tradition but a national festival cherished across the country. “Is BJP anti-all States according to your funny theory?” the BJP functionary questioned, while pointing out that the ICAI is an independent statutory body and not under the Finance Ministry.
DMK MP Kanimozhi also entered the debate and said that the examination’s overlap was “ a deliberate attack on our identity and heritage”.
“If the Union Government truly respects Tamil sentiments as it claims, it must direct the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, under which ICAI operates, to reschedule the exam. It’s high time the Union Government stops imposing decisions that undermine our cultural diversity and honors the majority Tamil sentiment,” Kanimozhi said.
