Nagaland Governor La Ganesan criticised the purported comment made by DMK’s organising secretary RS Bharathi which characterized the Naga people as dog-eaters. He emphasized that Nagaland boasts a diverse and rich heritage with each tribal community contributing its distinct culture and traditions to the vibrant tapestry of India. La Ganesan also urged the people in leadership positions to exercise caution and appealed to the people of Nagaland to ignore the remark of DMK leader as it does not reflect with the real voice of Tamil people.
On the alleged remark, La Ganesan in a statement said, “This unwarranted assumption, branding the whole Naga community as dog-eaters, is not only in poor taste but also maligns our diverse and dignified culture. To stereotype and belittle the entire population based on the dietary preference of a few is not only disrespectful but inevitably leads to the distortion of our identity.”
"The statement offered by R.S. Bharathi is an unfortunate generalisation that belittles an entire community on the basis of food habits," he said.
The Governor reiterated that Nagas were dignified and cultured people deeply committed to their rich cultural heritage.
He said, "The communal harmony that exists between the Tamils and the Nagas either in Nagaland or in Tamil Nadu is a testament to the immense respect that both the communities have for each other's tradition."
Therefore, as the Governor of Nagaland, La Ganesan condemned the remarks and called upon everyone to discourage such behaviours, promote mutual respect and strengthen unity.
Earlier, BJP state president K Annamalai said that RS Bharathi had made derogatory remarks about the people of Nagaland, alleging that they consume dog meat.
However, RS Bharathi told Governor RN Ravi to learn Tamil in order to understand the context in which the statement was made, as reported by The New Indian Express.
RS Bharathi told the purported statement while attacking TN Governor RN Ravi.
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