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Hindu Makkal Katchi

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Hindu Makkal Katchi
Indu Makkal Katchi (IMK)
AbbreviationHMK or IMK
PresidentAvinash Krishna R.S.
Founded1993
Split fromHindu Munnani
HeadquartersCoimbatore,Tamil Nadu, India
IdeologyHindutva
Hindu nationalism
Political positionRight-wing

Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK),literally meaning Hindu People's Party, also pronounced asIndu Makkal Katchi (IMK),is a right-wing,[1]Hindu nationalist[2]party in the Indian state ofTamil Nadu.[3]

The organisation was set up byRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS) as a front for its political activities in Tamil Nadu. Since its formation served as the platform for RSS and its subsidiaries known as theSangh Parivar.[4]

Formation

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Hindu Munnani,theparent organizationof Hindu Makkal Katchi was set up byRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS) as a front for its political andcommunalactivities inTamil Nadu.[4]Tamil Nadu was free from the political influence of RSS, which was trying to influence the state since the early 1980s. Hindu Munnani org was founded in 1980 byRama Gopalan,a member ofR.S.S.and since its formation served as the platform for RSS and its subsidiaries known as theSangh Parivar.[4]

The organisation promoted a Hindu communal identity and used it as a political mobilisation strategy. In the early 1990s, theAIADMKJayalalitha government (1991–1996)tilted towardsHindutva,in reaction to the vote-bank politics ofDMK.Jayalalitha-led government supported the activities of Hindu Munnani in organizingVinayaka Chathurthiprocessions in major cities ofTamil Nadu.[4]The state government's support of Rama Gopalan's activity made him a follower ofJayalalitha.Due to this proximity, a faction of Hindu Munnani broke away and found another group named Hindu Makkal Katchi under the leadership ofS.V. Sridharin 1993. Themilitantsof the two groups used vituperative andabusivelanguage against the Muslims. The provocative speeches againstIslamandMuhammadpolarized the social atmosphere of the region. Theiranti-Muslimspeeches and activities led to formation of Muslim groupAl Umma.[4]

The activities of RSS, Hindu Munnani and Hindu Makkal Katchi continued uninterrupted under Jayalalitha. The BJP alliance withAIADMKled to further spread of RSS ideology in Tamil Nadu. These organisations used religious festivals to combine their strength and causedriots.[4]

Activities

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Due to various extremist actions, the party was repeatedly in conflict with the law. Its leaderArjun Sampathwas arrested in 1997 on an attempted murder charge.[5]

Hindu Makkal Katchi staged demonstrations on 29 October 2017 in front of theatres acrossTamil Naduin protest againstfreedom of speechi.e. 'objectionable sentences' aboutGoods and Services Taxin actor Vijay's 'Mersal'. HMK leader Arjun Sampath led a demonstration in front of a theatre inKumbakonamand demanded removal of the 'controversial sentences'. Party activists tore up banners of Vijay and movie directorAtlee.In Tiruchirapalli, HMK members staged a demonstration in front of a theatre, while similar protests were held atOttenchathraminDindiguland inChennai.The movie ran into trouble soon after its 18 October 2017 release, coinciding withDiwali,over 'incorrect references' to the GST.[6]

In 2008 and 2009 party members were temporarily arrested by the police to block them from staging nationalistic demonstrations on the island ofKachchatheevu,which belongs toSri Lanka.[7][8]

In 2009, some Tamil fishermen were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy.[9]To protect them, HMK supporters started agitations and pressurized Indian Govt to take responsibility of them and rescue them from Sri Lanka. When former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram visited Tamil Nadu, HMK supporters showed black flag as central government failed to rescue the Tamil fisherman from the Sri Lankan navy. 19 supporters were arrested and removed from the Gandhi park area by police.[9]Not only Sri Lanka issue they also sought about handling problems in bilateral relations with Pakistan and China.[9]

The party also made repeatedly headlines with peaceful charges againstwomen.It pressed charges against themovie starsKhushbu Sundar(2006),Shriya Saran(2008) andMallika Sherawat(2008) for "indecent dressing" and "offending Hindu values".[10][11]Party members also harassed women visiting pubs and young couples being out onValentine's Day.[12]

The Party's president Arjun Sampath claimed that 1000DalitChristians will bereconvertedto Hinduism atTirunelveliwhich gains significance in the backdrop 9 March police shootout in which two people were killed when clashes broke out between the members of upper caste Catholics and Dalit Catholics.[13]

The party's five activists werearrestedfor indulging indemolitionofPeriyar E. V. Ramasamy'sstatueinstalled in front of the Rajagopuram of theSri Ranganathaswamy TempleinSrirangam.[14]

In 2017, Hindu Makkal Katchi leader strongly opposed the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second time visit to Sri Lanka next month, where he was going to participate in the United Nations Vesak Celebrations which was held from 12 to 14 May 2017. This 'International Day of Vesak' was hosted by theBuddhist-majority country and the commemorations in Colombo was also include an International Buddhist Conference in which over 400 delegates from more than 100 countries.[15]

In November 2019, Hindu Makkal Katchi leader Arjun Sampath was detained following his draping of saffron shawl onThiruvalluvarstatue inPillayarpatti, Thanjavur.This is read as an attempt atsaffronizationof Thiruvalluvar.[16]

They were instrumental in bringing backLakshmi,thetemple elephantatManakula Vinayagar TempleinPuduchery.Lakshmi was taken away byPETAand theAnimal Welfare Boardand accused theTempleof violating the Prevention ofCruelty to animalsand theWildlife Protection Act,1972. She was relocated toKrishi Vigyan KendraatKurumamber,where her health was reported to havedeteriorated.[17]

Attacks against Hindu Makkal Katchi

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In February 2023, Manikandan, the south district deputy head of the Hindu Makkal Katchi was killed by a gang in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Police said that the accused escaped after committing the crime.[18]

In March 2020, a group attacked Nandakumar, Tirupur north district deputy secretary of HMK. Police said that the group escaped after the attack.[19]

In September 2018, the Coimbatore city police, arrested five persons (Jafar Safiq Ali (29) of Vysarpadi, Ismail (25) of Tindivanam, Samsudeen (20) and Shalavuddin (25) of Pallavaram, and Ashik (25) of Coimbatore) for planning to kill HMK leader Arjun Sampath and his son, Omkar Balaji. Coimbatore city police said that one of the accused, Ashik, was facing many cases, including the kidnapping of girls.[20]

In January 2018, a gang threw petrol bombs at the house of HMK south zone organizing president, Balamurugan, in Sivaganga. Police said that the men came in a motorbike, threw bombs, and fled.[21]

In July 2014, a group attempted to attack HMK spokesperson Sendhur Pandi, at Kenikarai. Police identified the attackers as Sadam Hussain (25), Mohamed Nizarudhin (23) and a 16-year-old boy, who were later arrested.[22]

References

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  1. ^"Hindu outfit chief visits Sri Lanka, pays homage to Easter attack victims".The Hindu.PTI. 28 May 2019.ISSN0971-751X.Retrieved1 August2022.
  2. ^"Fact Check: Did PETA India torture elephants?".Deccan Herald.15 August 2020.Retrieved1 August2022.
  3. ^"Ban Valentine's day celebrations: Tamil Nadu fringe Hindu outfit".The Indian Express.13 February 2018.Retrieved24 December2020.
  4. ^abcdefParvathy, A. A. (2003).Hindutva, Ideology, and Politics.Deep & Deep Publications. p. 211.ISBN978-81-7629-450-8.Retrieved20 December2021.
  5. ^"A time of troubles".frontline.thehindu.6 March 1998.Retrieved1 August2022.
  6. ^"Pro-Hindu outfit HMK stages demonstration against 'Mersal'".Outlook.Retrieved17 July2018.
  7. ^Hindu Makkal Katchi members arrested.The Hindu, 16 August 2008
  8. ^Hindu Makkal Katchi TN secretary heldArchived4 March 2016 at theWayback Machineat Chennai-Online, 23 August 2009
  9. ^abc"Hindu Makkal Katchi activists arrested".The Hindu.3 October 2009.ISSN0971-751X.Retrieved18 July2018.
  10. ^HMK alleges Mallika Sherawat of misconductat news.oneindia.in on 2 May 2008 (retrieved 24 September 2009)
  11. ^Moral police targets Mallika Sherawat.The Tribune (Online Edition), 2 May 2008
  12. ^Jeremy Page:Young Hindutuva members square up to nationalists over Valentine's Day[dead link].The Times,14 February 2009
  13. ^"1,000000 Dalit Christians to reconvert to Hinduism in TN".The Times of India.13 April 2008.Retrieved30 March2016.
  14. ^"Periyar statue damaged at Srirangam, tension in town".The Hindu.8 December 2006.ISSN0971-751X.Retrieved30 March2016.
  15. ^"Hindu outfit opposes Narendra Modi's Lankan visit".Struggle for Hindu Existence.25 April 2017.Retrieved17 July2018.
  16. ^Ganesan, S. (6 November 2019)."Hindu Makkal Katchi founder detained after draping saffron shawl on Thiruvalluvar statue".The Hindu.ISSN0971-751X.Retrieved27 August2020.
  17. ^"Jumbo Lakshmi gets grand welcome on return to Manakula Vinayagar temple in Puducherry".The New Indian Express.Retrieved27 August2020.
  18. ^"Tamil Nadu: Hindu Makkal Katchi leader hacked to death in Madurai".India Today.Retrieved22 September2023.
  19. ^"Hindu outfit functionary attacked in Tirupur".The Times of India.18 March 2020.ISSN0971-8257.Retrieved22 September2023.
  20. ^"Tamil Nadu: Five held in Coimbatore for plotting to murder Hindu Makkal Katchi leader Arjun Sampath".The New Indian Express.Retrieved22 September2023.
  21. ^"Petrol bomb attack on Hindu Makkal Katchi leader's house".The Indian Express.12 January 2018.Retrieved22 September2023.
  22. ^WHN (3 July 2014)."Three arrested for bid to attack Hindu front man".World Hindu News.Retrieved22 September2023.
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