Tamil Nadu health minister rejects governor's charge on two-finger test on minors

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi’s allegation of a two-finger test on minor girls in Chidambaram is false and the health department, upon verification, found no such test was conducted, Health Minister Ma. Subramanian said on Saturday.

Accusing the governor of being vindictive towards the state government, Subramanian claimed Ravi attempted to portray something that had never happened. “He had accused the police of registering cases against the Dikshitars (priests of renowned Nataraja temple in Chidambaram) for performing child marriage and claimed two underage girls were subjected to a two-finger test, which is not true,” said the minister.

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Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Subramanian said it has become necessary for him to clarify the subject despite the state police issuing a rebuttal on the issue on May 5.

“The governor is trying to find fault through a magnifying glass hoping to target the state government,” Subramanian said. Ravi spoke something which has not happened and this was unbefitting the position he holds, the minister claimed.

“His allegation is utterly false. The health department, which looked into the case history and treatment given, also scrutinised the records. The records clearly state that the two-finger test has not been performed on the girls,” Subramanian claimed.

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The DGP office had earlier strongly refuted the allegation that the police registered cases against the Dikshitars after the social welfare department complained out of vengeance. A release from the DGP office had said the Chidambaram town All Women Police Station registered four cases under various sections of the IPC, including child marriage, and arrested 8 men and 3 women in this regard.

The police had also dismissed the allegation that two girls studying in class VI and VII were forcibly subjected to a two-finger test and that they later attempted to commit suicide.

(With Agency inputs)