Reporter’s diary: After LTTE reference, Dhinakaran rivals Seeman in meme world

Tamil Nationalist organisations never fail to recall LTTE and its chief Prabhakaran during their meetings and sometimes, political parties too join the bandwagon.

The latest to join the list is Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary TTV Dhinakaran. A photo of Dhinakaran in green camouflage uniform resembling LTTE chief is being widely circulated in the social media with a caption “Prabhakaran is the leader of Tamils while Dhinakaran is for Tamil Nadu.”This, however, did not go down well with the supporters of Prabhakaran. They not only condemned Dhinakaran, but also sought an apology. The move by Dhinakaran’s supporters to take political mileage by comparing him with the slain leader appeared to have failed miserably.

Meanwhile, AMMK supporters also failed to learn their lessons after Naam Tamilar Katchi founder Seeman received backlash in the social media for making tall claims over his meeting and subsequent stay with LTTE chief. Seeman had claimed that he was present when LTTE attacked an Australian ship and also he ate turtle meat along with Prabhakaran. He also said that he was the first Indian to shoot an AK-74. This only elevated Seeman to become a darling of meme creators. But now, he seems to face stiff competition from Dhinakaran.

— G Jagannath, Chennai