Once again, A. Raja, a prominent figure in the DMK known for his controversial statements, finds himself under scrutiny. As the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections approach, Raja has sparked criticism with his recent remarks concerning Lord Ram and India.
During a speech, Raja expressed his views, challenging the notion of India as a unified nation, instead referring to it as a subcontinent. He argued that each language represents a distinct nation and country; for instance, Tamil, Malayalam, and Oriya each signify separate entities.
Raja emphasized the diverse traditions and cultures across India, citing examples such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Delhi, and Oriya, each with its unique cultural identity. Furthermore, he highlighted regional practices like the consumption of dog meat in Manipur, defending them as aspects of cultural diversity.
A Raja on Lord Ram
A. Raja declared that Tamil Nadu would not embrace slogans like “Jai Shree Ram” or “Bharat Mata ki Jai.” He went further, asserting that they stand as adversaries to Ram, expressing his lack of faith in the Ramayana or Lord Ram.
In his discourse, Raja questioned the notion of human harmony purported in the Ramayana, citing the diverse origins of its characters as evidence. He dismissed chants of “Jai Sri Ram” as baseless, labeling those who uphold them as ignorant.
Following these contentious remarks, the Bhartiya Janata Party criticized A. Raja and the DMK. Additionally, the DMK’s ally, the Congress Party, condemned Raja’s statements, advocating for more restrained speech.
While such criticism is not unprecedented within the DMK, the recent condemnation echoes a similar response from the Supreme Court, which rebuked Junior Stalin for his controversial remarks on the “eradication” of Sanatana Dharma.
Who is A Raja?
Adimuthu Raja is an Indian politician born on October 26, 1963, in Tamil Nadu’s Perambalur District to parents S. K. Aandimuthu and Chinnapillai Ammal.
Raja’s family background includes grandparents who worked in tea estates in Sri Lanka. During his schooling years, Raja became acquainted with the ideologies of Periyar and the Dravidar Kazhagam. This exposure piqued his interest in the atheistic and rationalistic principles of the Dravidian ideology, alongside the philosophies of Ambedkar and Marx.
He did his B.Sc. in mathematics from the Government Arts College in Musiri but was disinterested in the subject and was drawn to politics and writing instead.
He completed his graduation in law from the Government Law College in Madurai and his master’s from the Government Law College in Tiruchirapalli.
A Raja Family & Wife
His grandparents, who are Dalit, traveled to Sri Lanka to work on the tea farms from Velur in the Perambalur area. In the 1950s, they went back to India, and Raja’s father went back in 1961. A Raja was born to S.K.Aandimuthu and Chinnapillai.
A Raja was married to M. A. Parameswari and the couple have a daughter named Mayuri. Parameswari died of cancer on 29 May 2021 at the age of 54.
A Raja Career
Raja joined the DMK students wing in his final year of college when he began his political career, and he quickly advanced through the party ranks. Raja was suggested by Rajya Sabha MPs S Siva Subramaniam and KN Nehru as the DMK candidate in Perambalur for the 1996 Lok Sabha elections after Vaiko was ousted from the party. He was elected and sat in Parliament.
A Raja Positions Held
Year | Position Held |
---|---|
1996 | Elected to 11th Lok Sabha |
13 October 1996-29 September 2000 | Minister of State (Rural Development) |
May 1999 | Elected to 13th Lok Sabha |
30 September 2000-21 May 2004 | Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare) |
May 2004 | Elected to 14th Lok Sabha |
23 May 2004-17 May 2007 | Cabinet Minister (Environment and Forest) |
18 May 2007-31 May 2009 | Cabinet Minister (Communication and Information Technology) |
May 2009 | Elected to 15th Lok Sabha |
A Raja’s Religion
Raja was first introduced to Periyar and Dravidar Kazhagam in high school in Perambalur. He rapidly developed an interest in Ambedkar, Marx, and the rationalistic, atheistic ideology of the Dravidian people. A Raja identifies himself as an atheist.
A Raja’s Net Worth
A. Raja is the DMK political party’s deputy general secretary and the representative for the Nilgiris constituency at the moment. Raja’s exact earnings and wealth are challenging. A. Raja had a net worth of 4.95 crores as of 2019, so there’s no latest information available regarding his current net worth (2023).
A Raja FAQs
A. Andimuthu is 60 years old.
A. A Raja was married to M. A. Parameswari. She died of cancer on 29 May 2021 at the age of 54.
A. Andimuthu Raja has a daughter named Mayuri.
A. “Hindu religion is a menace not only for India but for the entire world,” said A Raja.
A. A. Raja had a net worth of 4.95 crores as of 2019, so there’s no latest information available regarding his current net worth (2023).