"Stalin may take pride in declaring himself non-devotee of Murugan": ANS Prasad accuses DMK of anti-hindu agenda
Madurai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 14 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State Media Spokesperson ANS Prasad issued a scathing statement on Friday, accusing Chief Minister MK Stalin and the ruling DMK government of politicising religion and placing covert obstacles in the way of the upcoming World Murugan Devotees' Conference, scheduled to be held in Madurai on June 22.
In a sharp attack on the state government, Prasad said, 'Chief Minister Stalin may take pride in declaring himself a non-devotee of Murugan to please the followers of E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar). But at the same time, the DMK government must stop covertly imposing obstacles on the upcoming Murugan Devotees' Conference in Madurai, which could give the public the impression that Stalin is an 'enemy of Tamil deity Murugan'.'
'Judicial Intervention Sought: CM MK Stalin and DMK Govt Directed to Cease Politicisation, Ensure Unfettered Conduct of World Murugan Devotees Conference in Madurai, Upholding Spiritual Rights & Constitutional Freedoms,' he added.
Prasad alleged that CM Stalin, known for distancing himself from religious practices, had acted against Hindu sentiments to appease followers of EV Ramasamy (Periyar).
He said, 'Chief Minister Stalin may take pride in declaring himself a non-devotee of Murugan to please the followers of E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar). But at the same time, the DMK government must stop covertly imposing obstacles on the upcoming Murugan Devotees' Conference in Madurai, which could give the public the impression that Stalin is an 'enemy of Tamil deity Murugan'.'
He reminded the DMK that under the Indian Constitution framed by B.R. Ambedkar, a Chief Minister must serve all religions equally, regardless of personal beliefs.
Prasad also pointed out that preparations for the conference were underway, with expectations of over 5 lakh devotees attending from Tamil Nadu and around the globe.
According to Prasad, the DMK and its alliance partners, including Congress, VCK, CPI(M), and others, had grown increasingly nervous over the conference's expected success. 'Their nervousness indicates the grand success this event is going to be,' he said.
He further added, 'The people have now realised the true nature of the 'anti-Hindu Periyarist DMK' of Chief Minister Stalin, the 'missionary-backed anti-Hindu DMK' of Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, and the 'foreign religious, Hindu-targeting DMK' of the controversial Minister Sekarbabu.'
Prasad also condemned the state government for allegedly misusing temple funds to organise a parallel state-sponsored event in Palani, claiming it was done for electoral gain and to divide Hindu society.
As the event drew near, Prasad claimed that groups like Makkal Adhikaram, May 17 Movement, Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, and Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, allegedly backed by the DMK, had petitioned the Director General of Police (DGP) seeking a ban on the conference.
These petitions were called 'another anti-Hindu drama' by the BJP leader.
'These groups have been making derogatory remarks about the conference, the Hindu religion, and Hindu gods, inciting social unrest. Meanwhile, the police remain silent spectators,' Prasad stated.
He also alleged that police had stopped volunteers from distributing invitations and intimidated Murugan devotees.
Referring to the spiritual heritage of Tamil Nadu, Prasad said, 'Tamil Nadu, the land once guided by the Nayanmars and Alwars, has always been a spiritual land. Despite invasions and temple destructions in North India, Tamil Nadu is home to thousands of ancient temples that have withstood the test of time.'
He raised serious concerns over a long-standing controversy surrounding Tirupparankundram Hill, the first of the six sacred abodes of Lord Murugan, claiming that certain groups were trying to rename it 'Sikandar Hill' and conduct non-vegetarian feasts and animal sacrifices near the temple.
He said, 'A group led by IUML MP from Ramanathapuram, Nawaz Kani, even staged a protest by eating non-vegetarian food along the sacred path to the temple, releasing photos of their act. This enraged the entire Tamil community.'
Prasad pointed out that a mass protest held on February 4, which attracted over 50,000 people despite government restrictions, had already served as a warning to the ruling coalition.
He warned that any further attempts to hinder the June 22 conference would backfire politically and spiritually. 'This conference will serve to reaffirm that Tamil Nadu is a land of spirituality, and expose the DMK government's double standards, selectively targeting Hinduism under the guise of secularism.'
Calling the upcoming event a festival of Hindu resurgence, he said, 'This conference, which unites Murugan devotees beyond political lines, will be a grand success and will deliver a strong blow to anti-Hindu forces. The spiritual uprising at Tirupparankundram will surely echo in the upcoming 2026 assembly elections!'
The conference is expected to see the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, with preparations for their participation underway. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
20 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Posters at Ooty railway station stoke allegations of Hindi imposition
Two posters that had been put up in the Udhagamandalam Railway Station stoked allegations of Hindi imposition and appropriation following which they were removed. In one poster, a quote by national poet Subramania Bharathi, transliterated into English as: 'Let us bring various literary forms and noble thoughts from all over the world,' was falsely attributed to Indian National Congress former president, Madan Mohan Malaviya. Meanwhile, another poster had a quote by Madabhushi Ananthasayanam Ayyangar, which read: 'Non-Hindi speaking too realise their dreams with simple spoken Hindi.' A section of visitors to the station objected to these posters with some voicing their opposition on social media. 'While the quote by Ananthasayanam Ayyangar can be seen as a subtle means of promoting Hindi, the other poster, of the quote by Bharathiar being falsely attributed to Malviya entirely is condemnable. As the posters have been sanctioned by the Union government, to be put up in a public space, the accuracy of such posters, and their potential to be interpreted as a means of imposing Hindi, should have been checked and vetted before being allowed to be put up,' said an activist from the Nilgiris, who had drawn the attention of the Southern Railways to the issue. Tweeting about the issue, Nilgiris MP A. Raja of the DMK said 'Hindi imposition is unacceptable! The use of Hindi in Indian railway stations in increasing every day. Especially in my constituency in the Nilgiris, the banners installed in Hindi at the 100-year-old Udhagamandalam railway station are hurting the sentiments of the Tamil people. I request the relevant authorities to immediately remove them. Tamil Nadu will never accept the imposition of Hindi.' He has also written to the Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw urging him 'to respect the linguistic sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu and avoid compulsory inclusion of Hindi where it is not contextually necessary.' When contacted, M. Vasudevan, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of the Salem Division of Southern Railways said the posters have been removed. 'There is no ulterior motive for the posters being put up, and they have been there for more that four or five years. We are checking how they were put up at the railway station,' said Mr. Vasudevan, who added there were other posters too, including those of quotes by poet Rabindranath Tagore. 'There are two posters which were brought to our notice, and as we do not want to court any controversies, they were removed immediately,' said Mr. Vasudevan.
India Today
33 minutes ago
- India Today
How unearthing Keeladi became a row over India's past
Archaeologist K. Amarnath Ramakrishna, who led the initial phases of excavation at Keeladi in Tamil Nadu, has become a key figure in an ongoing national debate about the interpretation of India's ancient past. His work, which began in 2014, brought to light evidence of an early, urbanised civilisation in South India. But his recent transfer and the Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) rejection of his excavation report have rekindled discussions about the intersection of archaeology, politics and 982-page report submitted by Ramakrishna in 2023, covering the first two seasons of excavation, remains unpublished. The ASI requested revisions, citing the need for clarity on stratigraphic layers, the application of dating methods such as Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) and broader interpretative consistency. Ramakrishna declined to revise the report, maintaining that the findings were based on established scientific Keeladi site, located near Madurai, gained prominence after excavations unearthed Tamil-Brahmi inscribed pottery, brick structures, an early drainage system, ivory dice and symbolic graffiti. These findings suggested the existence of a well-organised settlement dating back at least to the 2nd century BCE. Radiocarbon dating and stratigraphic evidence indicated a potentially earlier timeline, with some layers dated as far back as 600 implications were significant. The discoveries offered material evidence of an advanced society in the Tamil region, prompting comparisons with the Sangam era and raising questions about prevailing narratives of ancient Indian civilisation, which have often been weighted towards North Indian contexts. Ramakrishna's transfer to Noida in June, and the non-publication of his report, drew swift political response in Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin posted on social media: 'How many obstacles do Tamils face? We have been fighting against all of them for thousands of years, and with the help of science, we have been establishing the antiquity of our race. Yet some minds refuse to accept it. It's not the statements that need to be corrected; it's some minds.'advertisementSince 2017, observers say, Amarnath Ramakrishna has faced a sustained pattern of institutional sidelining and political persecution. His transfer to Assam in 2017, just as Keeladi's excavation was gaining national attention, was the first clear signal of an attempt to derail the narrative he was helping construct—a narrative that unearthed evidence of a sophisticated, secular, urban Tamil civilisation from the Sangam era. His subsequent postings—far removed from active fieldwork—have systematically curtailed his influence. In his new posting, he was removed from his antiquities role and retained only as director of the NMMA—a unit that has remained largely defunct since its inception in in Keeladi, Amarnath's successor, P.S. Sriraman, took charge of the third phase and, after excavating merely 400 square metres of land, reported there was no continuity in the brick structures earlier uncovered—a claim that sharply contradicted previous findings and was seen by many as an attempt to downplay Keeladi's historical Ramakrishna's reassignment in 2017, Tamil Nadu's State Department of Archaeology has continued excavations at Keeladi. The site has since expanded, and a museum dedicated to its findings has been established. While the state has celebrated Keeladi as a symbol of Tamil antiquity, the Centre's call for caution appears misplaced—stemming less from methodological concerns and more from Keeladi's divergence from its preferred ideological Nadu's Minister for Finance and Archaeology, Thangam Thennarasu, offered a strong response to the ASI's actions. 'Crossing countless hurdles that threaten the pride and antiquity of the Tamil race, we continue to make the world aware of the richness of our heritage and language, backed by scientific evidence. Yet, some minds still refuse to accept the truth,' he said. 'To confront such denial, reports alone are not enough; rather, we carry the responsibility of changing those minds.'Union minister for culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekawat said the reports were not yet technically well supported or established. 'A lot remains to be done before recognising or accrediting the findings presented by the archaeologist who conducted the survey. Let them come with more results, data and evidence, because a single finding cannot change the entire discourse. We must be cautious, and let archaeologists, historians and technical experts lead this conversation—not politicians.'In response, Thennarasu suggested the central government's reluctance to endorse Keeladi's findings stemmed from treating Tamils as 'second-class citizens'.The Keeladi debate escalated as Stalin accused the AIADMK of staying silent when the Centre downplayed the site's significance, blaming their BJP alliance for the muted response. Former minister R.B. Udhayakumar countered that it was the AIADMK government that sanctioned Rs 55 lakh for the 2018 excavations. Senior AIADMK leader Mafoi Pandiarajan who was in charge of archaeology during the AIADMK reign under Edappadi Palaniswamy hailed the latter as 'Keeladi Nayakar' (hero of Keeladi), crediting him with establishing Tamil antiquity. A senior DMK leader dismissed this, saying, 'Their belated pride in Keeladi rings hollow when they put alliance politics above Tamil identity.'advertisementCPI(M) MP from Madurai S. Venkatesan, who has closely followed the developments around Keeladi, described Ramakrishna's transfer as the latest in a series of administrative hurdles. 'Transferring an official is not in itself a major issue—it is part of administrative procedures,' he said. 'But Amarnath Ramakrishna worked on the Keeladi excavation for eight years, without compromising on the truth. He was removed, reassigned and denied the opportunity to publish his findings. Only after court intervention was he allowed to write the report.'Venkatesan noted that the ASI had assured both the court and Parliament that the report would be published within 11 months, a timeline that was not met. 'Now, at the final stage, they suddenly say more scientific evidence is needed. This, after years of delays and obstructions,' he said. He characterised the actions against Ramakrishna as setting a precedent: 'The message is clear: If you do not align with our views, this is what will be done to you. This is not just about an individual—it's a discriminatory act against Tamil Nadu and against South Indian history itself.'advertisementAt the core of the Keeladi debate lies a methodological question—how evidence is collected, dated and interpreted. Yet, observers point out that the controversy has grown far beyond technicalities. It now reflects deeper concerns about how historical narratives are constructed, whose past is legitimised and how institutions mediate questions of the precise dating of Keeladi's layers and their implications for early South Indian civilisation continue to be subjects of academic scrutiny, there is broad scholarly agreement on the site's significance. 'Keeladi has emerged as one of the most important sites in reconstructing the cultural and urban history of early South India. The findings deserve open debate—not suppression,' notes a senior and political analysts argue that the persistent bureaucratic obstacles, the shelving of a report grounded in scientific evidence and the series of administrative actions against the archaeologist cannot be seen in isolation. They argue this is not about professional differences but more 'an attempt to discipline a regional narrative that challenges the dominant, Sanskritised version of Indian antiquity.'advertisementObservers suggest the implications go beyond archaeology. 'This is about who gets to write India's history,' said a political analyst. 'When the state selectively obstructs certain findings, it sends a message that history must serve ideology. In this case, it seems Tamil Nadu is being punished for asserting a past that does not fit the official narrative.'In this framing, the Keeladi controversy becomes not just an academic dispute but a struggle over memory, identity and power. As the analyst observed, 'The excavation trenches of Keeladi are turning into battlegrounds—not only over potsherds and carbon dates, but over who belongs in the centre of India's civilisational story.'Subscribe to India Today Magazine
News18
35 minutes ago
- News18
Woman, Two Daughters Abducted At Gunpoint In MP, Congress Slams BJP Over Law & Order Situation
Last Updated: The police have arrested five in connection with the matter, and a search is currently underway to trace the woman and her daughters. A woman and her two daughters were allegedly kidnapped by a group of over 12 men after the kidnappers opened fire and injured her husband in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district, reported PTI, citing police on Sunday. The men assaulted Hariram Pal and his family before abducting his wife and daughters, aged 7 and 5, at gunpoint. According to Sub-Divisional Police Officer Naveen Dubey, the incident unfolded on Saturday afternoon, at nearly 12:30 p.m. in Sumedi village under Lavkushnagar police station limits. The accused arrived on motorcycles and four-wheelers. While the police have arrested five in connection with the matter, a search is currently underway to trace the woman and her daughters. An official informed that the arrested individuals have been taken into custody and a case has been registered against them under various Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections, including attempt to murder. A video of the incident has also emerged online. It shows the accused carrying out the kidnapping in full public view. The official revealed the woman and her daughters were forced into an SUV and driven away as shots were fired in the air. Meanwhile, speaking to the reporters, Pal said that he was shot at while trying to rescue his wife and children, but he survived. The incident has triggered a public outrage, with the opposition attacking the BJP-led state government over the law and order situation in the state. 'A woman and her two children were kidnapped in broad daylight in Chhatarpur. The accused opened fire and forcibly took them away in a car," state Congress president Jitu Patwari said in a post on X. He also questioned the silence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who also holds the home portfolio. Senior Congress leader and former state chief minister Kamal Nath raised concerns and said, 'There is no fear of law left in Madhya Pradesh. Such film-style crimes point to a state of jungle raj. This is deeply worrying." Amid the backlash, the Madhya Pradesh Home Department, in a post on X, confirmed a case has been filed in the case under multiple sections, including on charges of attempted murder in Sumedi village. First Published: June 22, 2025, 16:22 IST
