Why PM Narendra Modi is reaching out to Tamil Nadu

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted the Tamil translation of the poem he had written in Hindi at the shores of Mamallapuram during the visit of Chinese president Xi Jinping. The poems translation appeared only in Tamil. This is not the first time that he is seen to be reaching out to Tamil Nadu.
In the past couple of months, there have been several instances when he has been seen wooing the Tamil people. While MK Stalin-led DMK is yet to take a stand on the PMs overtures to the Tamil people, Congress sees it as a ploy to compensate for the controversy which had erupted over BJP president and Union home minister Amit Shahs remarks on Hindi.
While AIADMK, which is in power in Tamil Nadu, views the PMs moves as a “concerted effort” to neutralise the negative narrative against him, BJP does not see anything new in this.
A widespread protest, particularly in the South, erupted after Amit Shah said on Hindi Divas on September 14 that Hindi should be developed as the countrys unifying language.
Amit Shah issued a clarification a couple of days later and said he was not talking about imposition of Hindi on any state.
Following this, PM Narendra Modi was heard showering lavish praise over the Tamil language during his last US visit. At Howdy, Modi! event in Houston, he called Tamil the "oldest language of the world". Subsequently, in his United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) speech, he quoted Tamil scholar Kaniyan Pungundranar of 4th century BC over universal brotherhood.

Here is a Tamil translation of the poem I wrote while I was at the picturesque shores of Mamallapuram a few days ag… https://t.co/tXy74KjOW5

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 1571545890000

On his return to India on September 28, Modis first visit outside Delhi was to the Tamil Nadu capital to attend the convocation ceremony of IIT, Madras on September 30. In his speech, he repeated his remark about Tamil being the oldest language of the world.
He said, “We are in the state of Tamil Nadu, which has a special distinction. It is home to one of the oldest languages in the world – Tamil.”

We are in the state of Tamil Nadu, which has a special distinction It is home to one of the oldest languages in the world- Tamil: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) 1569825648000

His next overture to Tamil Nadu was when Chinese president Xi Jinping visited Mamallapuram in the state on October 11. Modi was seen wearing the traditional veshti-shirt and mel thundu. For two days, he tweeted in Tamil besides in Mandarin and English and again professed his love for Tamil.
Xi Jinping was offered Tamil cuisine during his two-day stay in Mamallapuram, which had trade, civilisational and cultural links with ancient China.
On October 12, Narendra Modi was seen plogging at Mamallapuram beach and he later tweeted a poem which he had written in Hindi. He posted the Tamil translation if the same poem on Monday.

कल महाबलीपुरम में सवेरे तट पर टहलते-टहलते सागर से संवाद करने में खो गया। ये संवाद मेरा भाव-विश्व है। इस संवाद… https://t.co/EfUbi0IH8P

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 1570957598000

Speaking to TOI on the PMs outreach to the Tamil Nadu people, a senior leader of the states main Opposition DMK said the party had not formulated a “line” on the issue.
However, Congress was forthcoming in its reaction. Party leader BK Hariprasad said, “Modi wants to cover up the blunder committed by Amit Shah. Had Modi not reached out to the Tamil people, they would have launched a large-scale protest against BJP. However, the people of Tamil Nadu will not get carried away by the overtures being made by Modi.”
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