VVIP racism caught on cam: Tribal boy forced to remove minister’s shoes

UDHAGAMANDALAM: TV channels aired a video of Tamil Nadu forest minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan asking a tribal boy to unbuckle his (minister's) slippers so that he (minister) could remove them and enter a temple in Theppakadu elephant camp in the Nilgiris on Thursday morning.The minister was at Theppakadu in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) to inaugurate a 48-day rejuvenation camp for captive elephants.Kethan, a Class IX schoolboy belonging to the Irula tribal community, was present there to witness the inauguration of the rejuvenation camp.The 71-year-old minister, who found it difficult to bend, called the boy, “Dei podiya, inga vaa,” (boy come here).Kethan was afraid when the minister called him as he thought the minister would scold him for not having gone to school. With hesitation, the boy approached the minister. The minister asked him to unbuckle his slippers.When contacted, Kethan told TOI that the minister had asked him to unbuckle his slippers.Speaking to TOI, Dindigul C Srinivasan said, "There was no hidden agenda in asking the small boy, who is just like my grandson, to unbuckle my shoes ".He said, "When I was told that there is a temple to be visited in the Theppakadu elephant camp, I had to remove my shoes. I was surrounded by officials and elderly people. I saw two boys playing nearby. I called one of them help me unbuckle my shoes as I couldn't do myself. I considered him my grandson. But things turned otherwise. "He added," If anyone is hurt by this act, I deeply regret for the same. "