Latest news with #MuruganDevoteesConference
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
AIADMK slams videos defaming Tamil icons
Deputy leader of opposition and senior AIADMK leader RB Udayakumar on Tuesday condemned a video clip played at the Murugan conference organised by right wing body Hindu Munanni on June 22, that criticised Dravidian stalwarts EV Ramasamy (Periyar) and CN Annadurai. The conference for devotees of Lord Murugan began in Madurai on Sunday (X@ANNAMALAI_K) Udayakumar said that he, along with three other senior AIADMK leaders, attended the conference as devotees of Lord Murugan and did not expect anything political even though the event was backed by the BJP. He emphasised that the AIADMK did not prescribe to the six resolutions passed in the conference including the removal of the department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) and a call for Hindu electoral unity ahead of the 2026 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. 'The resolutions passed at the Murugan Devotees Conference have nothing to do with AIADMK. We strongly condemn the video about Periyar and Anna broadcast at the conference,' said Udaykumar in a video message, adding, 'The AIADMK and its general secretary Edappadi K Palaniwami (EPS) will be the first to raise their voice to condemn, if there is a disgrace to Arignar Anna and the Father of Dravidian movement Thanthai Periyar.' This comes after the AIADMK was slammed by the ruling DMK after its leaders attended the two consecutive events — the conference and an event organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on June 23. The DMK had criticised the AIADMK for being part of an event that criticised Dravidian leaders as both parties, though rivals, share a common beginning with Dravidian tenets espoused by Periyar and Annadurai. A picture of Annadurai, who was the founder of DMK, is in the AIADMK's flag. After the AIADMK walked out of the NDA in 2023 because of then-BJP state chief K Annamalai's criticism of Annadurai and late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa, they came together again this April to fight the 2026 assembly elections. This has been the first hiccup in the alliance since then. Udayakumar sought to remind people of EPS' decision to walk out of the alliance. 'The AIADMK will never compromise on its principles and ideologies,' Udayakumar said. 'Even the DMK knows this. They are using the conference to defame the AIADMK,' he added. He also said he and other party leaders could not see the controversial audio-video presentation as the giant screen was placed behind their chairs. On Monday, SP Velumani, AIADMK's former minister and a close aide of EPS was in the front row next to Annamalai at an event attended by RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat. 'The AIADMK members, who have time to sit as showpieces at RSS-BJP conferences, have neither the time nor the dignity to speak out against these things to their masters,' said CM and DMK president MK Stalin.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
DMK obstructing Murugan meet: L Murugan
Madurai: Union minister of state L Murugan on Saturday accused the DMK government of deliberately creating obstacles to the Murugan Devotees Conference in Madurai, with the support of the police. He claimed the state's actions reflected fear over the growing influence of the event. "Despite the DMK's anti-Hindu stance and pressure tactics, the conference will proceed with full enthusiasm," Murugan said after visiting the venue. "Lakhs have already arrived in Madurai. The scale of participation is comparable to the Chithirai festival." Highlighting the BJP's past campaigns, he said, "We responded to those who insulted Kanda Sashti Kavasam with the Vel Yatra. This conference is our answer to the controversy in Thiruparankundram. Tomorrow, lakhs will sing the Kavasam in unison, and we urge other devotees to join in from their homes."
India Today
19-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
DMK questions Yogi Adityanath, Pawan Kalyan's attendance at Murugan conference
The ruling DMK government on Thursday once again criticised the BJP over the upcoming Murugan conference in Tamil Nadu's Madurai district, alleging that the event is designed to sow divisions among people in the name of religion, race and Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister PK Sekar Babu questioned the relevance of political leaders from other states attending the event, particularly Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, both of whom are scheduled to visit Madurai for the conference on June 22. advertisement'What is the relationship between Andhra's Pawan Kalyan and Tamil Nadu? What is the relationship between UP's Yogi Adityanath and Tamil Nadu?' Sekar Babu asked. 'Temples are to propagate justice and discipline. But the conference by these people is aiming to create divisions based on race, language and religion. I feel such conferences are not needed. If they want to conduct one, let them,' he said. The Minister's remarks come ahead of the Murugan Devotees Conference, scheduled for June 22, with the ruling DMK dismissing it as a politically motivated gathering and the BJP defending it as a celebration of Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking at a party meeting in Madurai on June 8, had called on devotees to attend the conference in large numbers to display unity. He had also accused the DMK of undermining religious sentiments, linking the controversy to the status of Thiruparankundram Hill, one of the six sacred abodes (Padai Veedu) of the deity Babu had then also dismissed the BJP-backed conference as a political stunt. 'This is a pure Sanghi and political conference. We conducted the conference where devotees of God Murugan from 27 countries participated. We did not plan to bring a crowd, seek money, arrange 2000 buses, but even then, 7 to 8 lakh people attended. But they planned this conference with the intention to use it to divide people in the name of religion,' he had said. IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
India Today
09-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Murugan conference row: DMK calls it Sanghi event, BJP defends it as devotion
A political controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu ahead of the Murugan Devotees Conference scheduled for June 22, with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) dismissing the event as a politically motivated gathering, and the BJP defending it as a celebration of Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking at a party meeting in Madurai on Sunday, called on devotees to attend the conference in large numbers to display unity. He criticised the DMK for allegedly undermining religious sentiments, linking it to the recent controversy over Thiruparankundram Hill, one of the six sacred abodes (Padai Veedu) of the deity Murugan. advertisement'Our Madurai has ancient history which goes back 3000 years. I have come here. DMK has dared to call Thiruparankundram Hill associated with God Murugan as Sikandar Hill. For years devotees of God Murugan have prayed here. I urge the people of Tamil Nadu to attend the Murugan Devotees Conference in large numbers and show them the devotees' strength,' Shah said. The controversy surrounding the Thiruparankundram Hill initially erupted when police barred members of the Muslim community from transporting goats and hens to the Sikandar Badusha Dargah, located atop the hill on January 22. The police stated that while prayers were permitted, animal sacrifices were not allowed. The hill also houses the revered Murugan Temple, situated close to the Dargah, adding a layer of religious sensitivity to the Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments PK Sekar Babu dismissed the conference as a political event. 'This is a pure Sanghi and political conference. We conducted the conference where devotees of God Murugan from 27 countries participated. We did not plan to bring a crowd, seek money, arrange 2000 buses but even then 7 to 8 lakh people attended. But they planned this conference with intention to use it to divide people in the name of religion,' he to Sekar Babu's comments, senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan accused the DMK of fearing the BJP's religious outreach. 'People like Sekar Babu are seeing our devotion-filled Murugan Conference with fear. Be it a political conference or religious conference, our only intention is to do good for the people and make devotion prosper. Why did you conduct Murugan Conference when you do not believe in him? This is only creating doubts in people's minds,' she MP A Raja also criticised the BJP's plans, alleging that the conference was being organised for political reasons. 'They are doing Murugan Manadu (conference) on June 22 purely for political gains and to create differences between Hindus and Muslims. They want to turn Hindus against Muslims and Christians. This conference is not to unite Hindus or for Lord Murugan. The people of Madurai will reject this. Amit Shah tried creating differences between communities in Tamil Nadu. The people of Tamil Nadu will never accept these kind of statements,' he said. IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
