Strongly condemning the remarks of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi releasing a commemorative stamp and coin to mark the centenary year of the RSS, Union Minister of State L. Murugan asked him to learn about the contributions of the RSS to nation-building and its dedicated, selfless service to the needy during natural calamities, rail and air accidents, floods, and fire mishaps. Its service during the pandemic is still fresh in the minds of people who were infected with the coronavirus.
Replying to a question at a press meet in Chennai on Stalin’s criticism of Prime Minister Modi’s decision to release a commemorative coin and postal stamp marking the RSS centenary, Murugan said, “I can even send him a book on the RSS. Stalin should understand the sacrifices, contributions, and services rendered by the RSS towards nation-building.”
To another query on the recent stampede in Karur during a political meeting addressed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Joseph Vijay, in which 41 people died, Union Minister Murugan replied, “It was a moment of immense sorrow. Along with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, I visited Karur and conveyed our condolences to the bereaved families. There is no need to politicise what has happened. Our National Democratic Alliance MPs also visited Karur, and they will submit a report to the party leadership.”
On October 2, after paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, Chief Minister Stalin criticised the Central government for releasing a commemorative stamp and coin to mark the RSS centenary. Stalin remarked, “Gandhi’s legacy is that the nation’s founding principle is secularism, and whenever seeds of hatred are sown and divisive forces rise, Gandhi gave people the strength to confront them.”
நமது இந்தியா, அனைத்து மத மக்களுக்குமான மதச்சார்பற்ற நாடு எனும் அடிப்படைத் தத்துவத்திற்கு வித்திட்டவர் அண்ணல் காந்தியடிகள்!
மக்களிடையே வெறுப்பின் விதைகள் தூவப்பட்டு, பிரித்தாளும் சக்திகள் தலைதூக்கும் போதெல்லாம் அவற்றை எதிர்கொள்ளும் வலிமையை நமக்கு என்றும் வழங்கும் ஆற்றல் அவர்.… pic.twitter.com/XdRrDDmiSZ
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) October 2, 2025
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief K. Selvaperunthagai termed the issue of the stamp and coin as treason. He demanded that the Prime Minister withdraw them, saying, “A stamp and a coin should be symbols of national unity and should bear the faces of freedom leaders. Symbols that create division must never appear on them.”
Stalin, who lectures the BJP and RSS on secularism, came under criticism for reviewing church renovation projects funded with taxpayers’ money.
திரு இருதய ஆண்டவர் ஆலயத்தில் முதலமைச்சர் ஆய்வு#CMMKSTALIN | #DyCMUdhay | #TNDIPR |@CMOTamilnadu @mkstalin@mp_saminathan pic.twitter.com/qAumcEoAWE
— TN DIPR (@TNDIPRNEWS) October 2, 2025
Commenting on his review of church renovations along with pastors, one critic posted on X, “For a few lakh votes from Christians, he is begging like ‘Sami, please vote for DMK’.”
சில லட்சம் கிறிஸ்தவ வாக்குகளை பிச்சை போடுங்கள் சாமி – முதலமைச்சர் @mkstalin மைண்ட் வாய்ஸ் https://t.co/TkpxdXhfSw
— Kalyan Raman (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@KalyaanBJP_) October 3, 2025
Manithaneya Makkal Katchi president M. H. Jawahirullah said the RSS’s claim on the postal stamp that ‘PM Nehru invited them for the 1963 Republic Day parade’ amounted to a distortion of history. “It is a gross falsification of history, and the RSS has been banned six times since Independence. It is highly condemnable that the Prime Minister has misused his office to glorify such an organisation,” he said.
Critics said, “It is rank minority appeasement before the Assembly polls. The DMK government has also been arresting RSS functionaries on flimsy grounds on October 2. When the Union government issued a stamp and coin for his father, Karunanidhi, whose government was sacked twice, once for corruption and again for anti-national activities by then Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Chandrasekhar, Stalin did not object.
Karunanidhi, according to YouTuber Maridhas, is called the ‘father of corruption’ and known for the ‘scientific way of doing corruption’ (as cited in the Sarkaria Commission). Was Stalin not happy when, on 18 August 2024, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released a Rs 100 coin to commemorate the birth centenary of the late DMK president M. Karunanidhi? The Prime Minister even lavished praises on Karunanidhi. The DMK is now demanding a Bharat Ratna for him, naming all projects and memorials after Karunanidhi. What was his contribution other than ensuring his sons, grandsons, great-grandsons, and daughter wield power, running a dynastic party? Let Stalin first look at his own record before pointing an accusing finger at others. As for Jawahirullah (who is out on bail), he should first understand the role of the RSS before making half-baked comments.”
According to critics, Stalin’s version of secularism means not permitting RSS annual route marches, not wishing Hindus on their festivals, and denying permission for Vinayagar Chaturthi celebrations, RSS, BJP, VHP, and Hindu Munnani meetings or protests. At the same time, he allocates crores of rupees to renovate mosques and churches, provides cash allowances and vehicles to their clergy, gives Pongal hampers to Muslim women (who never celebrate Pongal), distributes tons of rice for porridge during Ramzan, and supplies sandalwood free of cost to dargahs for their festivities. “Attending Iftar parties wearing a skullcap and attending Christmas events are, for him, acts of secularism. Criticising Hindu rituals at Muslim gatherings is acceptable for Stalin,” they said.
Indu Makkal Katchi founder Arjun Sampath reminded Stalin of greeting and embracing one of the convicts involved in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, a known LTTE operative, in a public event while being the Chief Minister. “Can we not save Tamil Nadu from the DMK, whose functionaries are caught red-handed smuggling narcotics and indulging in crimes including rape, murder, robbery, and land grabbing? He has no dharmic right to even mention the name of the RSS. Even during the Karur stampede, ambulances and water bottles carried Stalin’s name, that was his version of ‘help’. The RSS, however, works without identity or publicity, serving the needy irrespective of caste or community. How can we expect DMK slaves who work for money and stick posters for a living to understand the RSS? The DMK has been creating hurdles for the RSS in its centenary year celebrations. The RSS is known for taking challenges in its stride through democratic and legal means. The Chief Minister should recall his comments on the RSS and the Prime Minister,” Sampath said.
