Tamil Nadu: Atheist DMK govt tries to woo Hindus, organises a two-day Global Muthamizh Murugan conference at Palani

CHENNAI: The atheist, Dravidian model government has organised a two-day Global Muthamizh Murugan Conference in the Palani hill town to showcase the world its sanatana credentials to win the hearts of Hindus.

Palani,  the third abode of Bhagwan Murugan, known as Thiruvaavinankudi, where the deity is worshipped with immense devotion. The hilltop temple, built by the sage Bhogar, is renowned for its miraculous powers and spiritual energy.

Why sudden love for Bhagwan Murugan that did not take action against the you tuber who made highly derogatory comments of Bhagwan Murugan and in the last September, TN Sports Minister Udhya Nidhi Stalin had wanted eradication of Sanatana Dharma like Dengu, Malariai and landed in facing court cases all over the country. DMK HR and CE minister who attended the meet where Udhaya Nidhi Stalin made this controversial comments,  this year is the prime mover of the global conference

DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi once on seeing  his party MP from Cuddalore who was wearing vermilion on his forehead, asked if he was bleeding”. And during the Sethu Samudram project issue, he questioned the educational credentials of Lord Sriram to prove his engineering capabilities. The DMK government would prevent Vinayagar Chathurti idol immersion, its immersion procession routes etc. Even during the Ayodhya Ram Prana Prathishta, it tried all tricks to stop special poojas and others events in the State, even after SC and Madras High Court permitted. These leaders would readily attend and organise Iftar and Christmas events.

Stalin while attending a Muslim gathering made a fun of Hindu marriage ceremonies.   Stalin has never visited any Hindu temples and did not accept the Prasad, Poorna Kumbh tradition and receiving sacred ash.  He was faulted when he throw the sacred ash given at the Paumpon Thevar memorial when he visited to pay homage.  There have been lot of instances to  show DMK’s secular love for Hindus. He never wished Hindus on their festivals till date.

In this back ground, the conference is seen as one of the ways to counter the ‘anti-Hindu’ criticism being levelled at the DMK often and to prove the party and the government’s ‘inclusiveness.’. it is also said ”  DMK a party rooted in rationalist ideology and known for its commitment to secular ideology ‘  to organise such an event to only counter the BJP that has become more visible in the state in recent years and its vote share has gone up to 18 percent under the leadership of Annamalai. In November 2020, then BJP state president L Murugan announced the Vel Yatra in the run-up to the Assembly elections in May 2021.

On Saturday, Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated the two-day International Muthamizh Murugan Conference in the temple town of Palani in Dindigul district via video conference from Chennai. He said  that his Dravidian Model government was not only in favour of people following their individual faith of choice but also wanted to help them in their religious pursuits. The conference did not materialise all of a sudden but was the result of a series of development work initiated by the govt through the Hindu religious and charitable endowment department.

Thuglak editor and satirist late Cho Ramaswamy used to comment “if need arise, DMK would even carry Kavadi (ceremonial offering practiced by devotees during the worship of Murugan).  His prophesy has come true on seeing DMK’s sudden love for organising this conference at a mega level.  This is the first time that the ‘rationalist’ DMK government is organising a spiritual conference by inviting about 2,000 delegates from across the world that have worked in the field and propagated Bhagwan Murugan, who has temples dedicated to him where… “The Tamil language, with its rich heritage, has always been at the forefront of cultural and spiritual progress. It is through the grace of Bhagwan Murugan that the three components of Tamil culture — literature, music, and drama — have flourished and attained greatness. The teachings and stories of Bhagwan Murugan continue to inspire us, guiding us through the challenges of life with wisdom and strength,

TN BJP Chief Annamalai said in X platform and a public meeting on 25th evening “Last year, they were all about eradicating Sanatana Dharma; this year, they’re throwing a grand celebration for Bhagwan Muruga. The commonality of these 2 pictures is the presence of TN HR&CE Minister Thiru Sekar Babu at both events.  When DMK senses the anger of people, it will change its script at the drop of a hat.  But never forget, Lord Muruga is watching through this Drama!”

Journalist Arun Ram in his column wrote  “ CM MK Stalim has been cultivating an image of being on inclusive secularist ( though he yet to wish Hindus on their religious festivals, while wishing minority religions, DMK is recent attempt is seen as a play to Hindu galleries and claim primary ownership of Tamil culture and heritage that is steeped in Hinduism-is a global conference on Bhagwan Murugan, the primordial Tamil deity of war and valur…. For now HR and CE minister PK Sekar Babuy is  Stalin’sambassador of everything godly a messenger of DMK’s Hindu outreach. ..”.

Annamalai while speaking at a public rally in Chennai said “DMK is using Bhagwan Murugan for political mileage which is bound to fail.  He said “ Last September DMK were speaking about eradication of Sanatana Dharma but now they are doing Global conference  on Bhagwan Muruga political comedy. History of Tamil Nadu is that those who are using Palani Murugan for politics will fail and Lord’s punishment is on the way.  It will be mighty. He will definitely punish DMK”.

The two day conference has adopted 21 resolutions among them is one for renovation of 143 ancient Murugan temples and festivals centred on Bhagwan Murugan devotional literature will be held at the six abodes of the deity. Another resolution is for setting up Siddha medicine Research Centre, etc.

The two days conference saw the presence of sitting Madras HC judges, various Saiva sect mutt heads and delegates from global level. Six personalities were presented with awards.  Initially, they organisers planned to collect Rs.500 for the 13,000 odd seats as entry fee but on seeing poor footfalls, they made it free with an offering of free sumptuous lunch, dinner as well Prasad hamper containing Panchamirtham, sacred ash, kumkum, laminated Bhagwan Murugan picture. From the videos it could seen a large number of burka clad Muslim women and Christians were occupying the seats. They are against idol worshipping and not haram as per their religion.

blob:https://web.whatsapp.com/e2cdc1d4-e99c-4577-8606-983245ba35d9

Some pro DMK TVs relied their bites.  Some claimed they were brought to show full gallery of visitors.  Even before the conference ends, some Muslim leaders has urged the government to prove its secular and inclusive nature by organising similar conferences for Muslims and Christians.

Some critics argue govt get funds from Hindu temples to organise but what is their contribution?  Let them all allow first their places of worship and its properties under government control.

Former state BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan asked why Stalin didn’t attend the event in person. Questioning the motive behind the DMK’s unexpected embrace of a religious event, she said Stalin and Udhayanidhi skipping the event suggests that the DMK government was organising the conference only as a “token gesture”.

CPI(M), VCK, CPI, allies of DMK said government should refrain from organising or promoting religious events. Such events, VCK say, won’t strengthen the secular Tamil identity since Bhagwan Murugan and other so called Tamil ties have already been approached within the Hinduism fold. CPI said the event is organised HR and CE which has existed since the time of the justice party”.