Old anti-Hindi protest video falsely linked to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
A video of protests against Hindi signboards in Tamil Nadu has been circulating online. Claims suggest the demonstrations escalated after C. Joseph Vijay became Chief Minister. However, the footage is older and unrelated to his appointment. Activists from the May 17 Movement staged protests at Chennai Park Railway Station on 11 March 2026. This coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tamil Nadu. During the demonstrations, one protester, Siva Dileepan, jumped in front of an incoming train while shouting pro-Tamil and anti-Hindi slogans. He was later hospitalised.
The video in question shows members of the same group spraying black paint over Hindi text on public signboards. It was first posted online by at least 12 March 2026. The footage resurfaced recently with false claims linking it to C. Joseph Vijay’s swearing-in as Chief Minister on 10 May 2026. The viral video predates Vijay’s appointment by nearly two months. The protests occurred during Modi’s visit, not after the new Chief Minister took office. The claim that anti-Hindi protests intensified after Vijay’s swearing-in is inaccurate.
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