NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday lashed out at the DMK over the language row as she accused it of hypocrisy, saying the “elderly person” they worship used to describe Tamil as a “barbaric” language which cannot even help beggars get alms.In a fiery speech in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said DMK people idolise a person who spoke “disparagingly” against the Tamil language.”I do not want to name him, but the moment I read the passages, anyone with a small, faint familiarity with Tamil will know who I’m speaking about. So when this person speaks about Tamil and much horribly, there’s no objection. On the contrary, they would keep his photo. They will also say he is our Dravidian icon,” she said while quoting the “elderly person” from various Tamil magazines.While the BJP leader did not take the name of the “elderly person”, she was apparently referring to Periyar, foremost leader of the Dravidian movement.Sitharaman also regretted that the DMK MPs did not even condemn a caricature portraying Prime Minster Narendra Modi in chains before US President Donald Trump.She said action will be taken against those behind the cartoon (now withdrawn) published in the online version of ‘Vikatan Plus’.”When the cartoon is done about honourable prime minister, do you want all of us to sit and watch it? Certainly action will be taken, and I’m happy Vikatan cartoon was pulled down. And for that, you have sympathy,” she said, adding if somebody says anything against the Tamil Nadu chief minister, the person is “arrested midnight”.
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