Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has questioned the DMK on whether it can oppose the BJP without resorting to hate-inducing remarks, citing debates around issues such as Sanatana Dharma and Hindi.
In a statement, Vembu referred to DMK leader TRB Raja’s question on why Tamil Nadu “lost” a TCS data centre project, arguing that large investment decisions are not made within a short span such as three months and therefore require a more detailed discussion.
Vembu said he is often asked across India why he continues to stay in Tamil Nadu despite what he described as hostility from the DMK and personal attacks linked to his birth as a Brahmin. He said his response is that Tamil Nadu is an excellent state and that the DMK does not represent the state’s broader society, which he said has supported Zoho and him personally.
He also claimed that remarks by DMK leaders—such as using the term “Vadakkans” for North Indians, mocking migrant workers, and calls to “eradicate” Sanatana Dharma—do not go unnoticed in other parts of India. He said Tamil Nadu has been projected as a state that opposes every move of the Union government, including NEET, Navodaya schools and Hindi, while neighbouring southern states take a more practical approach.
Vembu said he was glad to see actor Vijay adopting what he described as a more constructive approach while opposing the BJP, and noted Vijay’s popularity in North India. He urged the DMK to abandon what he called a blind hostility towards “everything northern” and said the party could oppose the BJP without making hate-provoking statements.
