I request @dr_maheshsharma to intervene in #Keezhadi issue and instruct the CBAI to immediately permit the ASI to resume excavation....

DMK leader M.K. Stalin petitioned Union Minister of State for Culture Dr. Mahesh Sharma on January 6, 2017, seeking urgent central intervention to resume archaeological excavations at Keezhadi in Sivaganga district. Stalin urged the Union Minister to issue clear directives instructing the Central Advisory Board of Archaeology to grant prompt permission so that the Archaeological Survey of India could commence its third phase of exploration without impediments.

Stalin emphasized that preliminary excavations at Keezhadi had uncovered extraordinary evidence of an advanced, literate, and urban Sangam era civilization along the Vaigai river basin. The discovery had captured international attention, establishing ancient Tamil antiquity and challenging long-held assumptions regarding early historic settlements in south India. He expressed serious concern over bureaucratic delays and procedural hesitations that threatened to stall this epochal research.

The opposition leader stressed that uncovering and preserving tangible cultural heritage was a national obligation that transcended partisan politics. Stalin asserted that administrative lethargy should never obstruct archaeological discoveries that illuminate India's civilizational roots. He urged the Union Ministry of Culture to allocate generous financial grants, retain experienced research officers, and ensure comprehensive scientific support for ongoing excavation work.