BENGALURU – An award conferred on a controversial classical musician in Tamil Nadu has triggered a major debate on caste and religion, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeking to capitalise on the situation ahead of the upcoming general election.
The BJP’s efforts to gain ground in Tamil Nadu, where it won less than 4 per cent of votes in the last elections in 2019, have led it to back the concerns of the small community of classical music lovers, which is dominated by the upper caste.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you