In a controversial move ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has confirmed that the DMK government has already included the teachings of Prophet Muhammad in the state school curriculum. The announcement came during a public event marking the 1500th anniversary of Prophet Muhammad, where Stalin reiterated his government’s “unwavering support” for the Muslim community. The decision follows demands made by Nellai Mubarak, a leader of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) a party widely recognized as the political wing of the now-banned radical Islamist outfit, Popular Front of India (PFI).
Appeasement Politics Before Elections
Stalin declared with pride that the syllabus change had been implemented, signaling DMK’s continued appeasement strategy to consolidate Muslim votes. He also positioned his party as the “first to stand by Muslims” whenever issues arise, taking aim at the AIADMK for its alleged silence on controversial issues like Triple Talaq. By including religious content in the syllabus, Stalin appears to be attempting to secure minority votes at the cost of secular educational policy, critics say. BJP spokesperson Narayan Tirupati slammed the move as a blatant example of DMK’s communal politics, accusing the party of prioritizing vote banks over Tamil identity.
Historical Pro-Muslim Posturing of DMK
Stalin highlighted that his party has historically aligned itself with the Muslim community. He pointed to measures such as granting 3.5% internal reservation for Muslims under the Backward Class (BC) category, adding Urdu-speaking Muslims to the BC list, establishing a welfare board for minorities, creating the Tamil Nadu Urdu Academy, and initiating the Haj House construction near Chennai airport. He also recalled how his late father, M. Karunanidhi, declared Milad-un-Nabi a public holiday in 1969, and reinstated it in 2006 after AIADMK discontinued it.
Echoes of Periyar and International Posturing
In his speech, Stalin attempted to draw a connection between Prophet Muhammad’s teachings and the ideals of Periyar, C. N. Annadurai, and Karunanidhi. He further extended his outreach by voicing concern for Palestinians in Gaza, urging the central government to intervene against what he termed “atrocities.” Such remarks are being seen as an extension of DMK’s strategy to align itself with global Islamic causes, further strengthening its minority-centric political positioning.
Hypocrisy on Tamil Identity
What has raised eyebrows across Tamil Nadu is Stalin’s apparent double standard. While the DMK has vociferously opposed the so-called “Hindi imposition” and even launched a “language war” to protect Tamil identity, the same leadership sees no contradiction in introducing religious teachings into the school curriculum. Critics argue that this not only compromises Tamil culture and secular educational values but also exposes DMK’s selective politics when it comes to identity and religion.
By yielding to SDPI’s demand and including Prophet Muhammad’s teachings in school education, the DMK has once again showcased its minority appeasement strategy. While the party projects itself as the protector of Tamil identity against Hindi, its decision to alter school curricula for religious appeasement raises troubling questions about its priorities. At a time when education should empower students with knowledge and critical thinking, DMK’s move reeks of political opportunism, reinforcing BJP’s charge that the party’s agenda is communal rather than secular.