Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 17 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday slammed the Centre for not validating an archaeological report that unearthed an ancient civilisation in Keeladi in the Sivaganga district. He urged the people to participate in large numbers at the protest organised by the DMK student wing in Madurai tomorrow over the Centre's stance on the report.
"How many obstacles are there for our Tamil race? For thousands of years, we have resisted all of them, establishing the greatness of our heritage with the support of science!" Stalin said in a post on X.
"Yet, some minds still refuse to accept it. It is not the reports that need correction; it is some hearts! Tomorrow, in Veeranoor, Madurai, let us gather in large numbers at the protest organised by DMK Student Wing to express the sentiments of Tamil Nadu to the Union Government! Let us make them correct their ways," he added.
On June 10, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the reports submitted to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) by archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna, who headed two phases of excavations and unearthed an ancient civilisation in Keeladi in the Sivaganga district, are not technically well supported. Further scientific studies are required to validate the findings, he said.
Recently, the ASI had asked Ramakrishna to resubmit his report on the excavation after making necessary corrections to make it "more authentic" and to take further action. He had submitted the reports to the Director General of ASI on January 30, 2023. In response, Ramakrishna refused to revise the report. He wrote to the ASI defending his findings and said further examination of the sequence contradicts the well-reasoned, conclusive findings of the Keeladi site.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Stalin on Monday lambasted Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi over the delay in granting assent to the bill establishing Kalaignar University in Thanjavur, accusing him of deliberately stalling the legislative process at the behest of the Union Government.
Speaking at a public event in Thanjavur, Stalin said that despite the Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously passing a bill on May 2 to establish the university named after former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, the Governor has yet to give his assent, even after 40 days.