Overview

• Chief Minister M K Stalin accused the BJP-RSS ecosystem of rejecting carbon-dated and AMS findings that place Keezhadi artefacts around 580 BCE because they conflict with its ideological narrative.
• Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the current Keezhadi evidence is technically insufficient and called for more results and data before drawing conclusions.
• In May 2025 the ASI’s Exploration and Excavation division asked lead archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna to revise his report to reflect a later dating near pre-300 BCE, a demand he has formally rejected.
• The DMK students’ wing announced a demonstration in Madurai on June 18 to denounce what it calls the Centre’s refusal to recognise scientifically established Tamil heritage.
• The Tamil Nadu government raised its archaeology budget from ₹5 crore to ₹7 crore to support further research into the state’s ancient urban civilisation.