CPI(M) flays Centre’s direction on Keezhadi excavations

The CPI(M) on Friday condemned the Centre’s direction on the Keezhadi excavations that the Bengaluru circle will file the final report, instead of Amarnath Ramakrishna, who was the Superintending Archaeologist in charge of excavating the site.

G. Balakrishnan, CPI(M) state secretary said the Centre was trying to dump the findings made by the team led by Mr. Ramakrishna, who has been transferred to Assam.

A source in the Archaeological Survey of India told

The Hindu that it is the excavators who should be writing the report.

According to the source, the team was carrying out its job properly at Keezhadi before Mr. Ramakrishna was transferred to Assam. “The interim report given by him has been submitted. The final report will take time. The excavator has to decide on the final report,” the source added.

Mr. Balakrishnan, in a statement, alleged the Modi government was making an attempt to hide the findings from the excavations that point to an old civilisation linked to the Tamil society.

“What is the necessity to change a rule that says that the excavator should file the report? It raises suspicions on the Centre’s motives,” he said and asked that Mr. Ramakrishna, who excavated the site, be allowed to write the report.