Thousands of Twitter users expressed their faith in Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan by posting their educational qualifications online. The tweet-storm was a result of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Anbumani Ramadoss’s claims that educated Dalit youth have lost faith in Thirumavalavan. As a result, the hashtags ‘I stand with Thiruma’ and ‘My leader Thiruma’ has been trending on the microblogging site since Sunday.
In a 17-minute long video, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said that the murder in Ranipet happened because of an altercation between friends and denied a caste angle to it. He also said that VCK Chief Thol Thirumavalavan will be able to do his politics only if he opposes the PMK. “DMK has historically worked towards dividing the two communities–the Dalits and Vanniyars–because only then they will be able to do politics over it… Educated youth of today have no faith in Thirumavalavan. They have lost faith in him. He has been exposed in the midst of the Dalit youth...He has been instigating the Dalit youth by saying they were oppressed long ago,” Anbumani said in the video. Accusing Thirumavalavan of ruining the lives of Dalit youth, Anbumani said that the leader has been using the youth to further his own political ambitions.
In response to his claims, thousands of users on Twitter showed their support of Thirumavalavan and posted their educational qualifications in an attempt to prove Anbumani wrong. Several users posted tweets in solidarity with Thirumavalavan with the hashtags ‘My Leader Thiruma’, and ‘I stand with Thiruma’.
Dear Ramadas,
— Humanist (@krishnangce) April 11, 2021
I have done M.E, in anna university main campus(CEG). ITIL Expert, ISO 9001-2015 auditor #istandwiththiruma for social justice and Equality and I accept #MyLeaderThiruma
Note: I am from BC/OBC community.
I am Ph.D graduate from IIT.
— தமிழ்க்கணி (@thamizhkani_c) April 11, 2021
I am informing you (@draramadoss ) that one of #MyLeaderThiruma
/படித்தவர்கள் திருமாவளவன் மீது நம்பிக்கை இழந்துவிட்டனர். யாரும் அவருடன் நிற்கவில்லை:
— dr. meena kandasamy | இளவேனில் (@meenakandasamy) April 11, 2021
அன்புமணி /
நான் மீனா கந்தசாமி, PhD
தங்கை- இளந்தென்றல், PhD
அம்மா- வசந்தா கந்தசாமி, PhD
அப்பா- கருப்பையா கந்தசாமி, PhD
எங்க தலைவர் திருமா. நாங்கள் அவரை முழுமையாக நம்புகிறோம். #MyLeaderThiruma
I am Dr.TTR Ambedkar MBBS
— Dr.Ramji Ambethkar (@TTRAmbethkar) April 11, 2021
I Support Dr. Thol Thirumavalavan#MyLeaderThiruma
I done my BE in REC Trichy and an International IT Programme manager worked in USA, UK, Germany, SG and Malaysia. Done my international certifications in PMP, PMI-ACP and ACAMS. @thirumaofficial Dr.Thiruma is my Inspiration! #istandwiththiruma #MyLeaderThiruma @WriterRavikumar https://t.co/YFgKUf9VAO
— kalidoss mariyappan (@shrkalidoss) April 11, 2021
Hi @draramadoss,
— Krishna (@karur_kaaran) April 11, 2021
I come from an obc community.
I am now pursuing my MA in Education.
I will trust my life with @thirumaofficial#MyLeaderThiruma
In response to the overwhelming show of solidarity on social media, Thol Thirumavalavan thanked “all the educated people” who extended support to him on social media. He also tweeted that to differentiate people as uneducated and educated was a consequence of Sanatanist ideology. He also said that the word uneducated was an expression of arrogance, as there are people who are denied education.
To differentiate people as #educated_and_uneducated is the consequence of #Sanatanist_ideology.
— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) April 11, 2021
To use the word uneducated is an expression of arrogance.
They are those denied the chance to be educated. That doesn't make them lowly. pic.twitter.com/phiJDUovnW
On April 7, two Dalit youths–Arjunan and Suriya–were murdered in Ranipet near Arakkonam with knives and glass bottles. Three of their friends Madhan, Vallarasu and Soundararajan were also injured in the attack. The police arrested four members from the Vanniyar community in connection with the murders. While Thirumavalavan attributed PMK’s caste-based electioneering as a reason for the murders, the district police have not confirmed the role of AIADMK or PMK in the incident.