Minister in Tamil Nadu's TVK-Led Govt Says No Compromise on Keezhadi Issue, Won't Accept NEP
New Delhi: The minister for school education and archaeology in the newly-formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government in Tamil Nadu has said that the government will not compromise on the issue of the Keezhadi excavation and the state government would urge the Union government to make the excavation reports public.
“When it comes to Keezhadi, AIADMK, DMK and TVK are all on the same page. All the kazhagams are together on Keezhadi in principle, and we will not compromise on it,” minister for school education and archaeology S. Rajmohan told the New Indian Express in an exclusive interview.
Rajmohan added that efforts are on to bring back Chola-era copper plates to Tamil Nadu.
“Like a World Cup trophy, it (copper platers) should be displayed in every state and eventually be kept in Thanjavur,” Rajmohan told the newspaper.
Rajmohan added that the TVK government would continue with the State Education Policy and under no circumstances would accept the New Education Policy (NEP).
Highlighting the government’s focus on archaeology, Rajmohan said resources are being mobilised for excavations across the state.
“There needs to be some small changes in the state policy,” said Rajmohan. He added that just like the previous DMK government, the state government would bear the cost for the changes, reported New Indian Express.
The findings of the Keezhadi excavations, that also unearthed iron age material had suggested that that an urban civilisation existed in Tamil Nadu in the Sangam age on the banks of the Vaigai river.
An archaeologist who had earlier overseen the excavation in Keezhadi, was subsequently asked by the archaeological survey of India (ASI) to resubmit his report regarding the findings after making necessary corrections for taking further action.
Thereafter, archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna had minced no words and had called the demand to rework the report “criminal and immoral,” arguing that it undermines the very idea of scientific archaeology.
In June last year, Union minister for culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had claimed that the report lacked technical rigour and required further scientific validation. Then Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin had responded sharply, calling it a “blatant attack” on Tamil heritage and a politically motivated attempt to diminish Tamil pride.
Politicians in Tamil Nadu have alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government is trying to suppress information about the ancient Tamil civilisation that had flourished on the banks of the Vaigai river.
This article went live on June fourth, two thousand twenty six, at forty minutes past twelve at noon.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
