Hindu Munnani, BJP Tamil Nadu and several other organisations have condemned a Tamil Nadu minister for allegedly stoking communal tensions in the otherwise peaceful state.
According to Indu Makkal Katchi leader Arjun Sampath, on June 9 in Chennai, Christian organisations held a function to felicitate members of their community who became part of the government led by actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay.
At the event, Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar (who had read Bible verses in the House), Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu and Congress leader and former Chairman of State minorities commission, Tamil Nadu, Peter Alphonse participated.
Reportedly, the meeting organized by Pastor Leo Nelson, President of the Tamil Nadu Christian Federation, the Congress leader Peter Alphonse said, “We have two gems,” referring to JCD. Prabhakar and Vanni Arasu in the government holding responsible positions.
He further said that he took more pride in being a Christian than in being a Congressman.
தமிழ் நாடு கிறிஸ்தவ கூட்டமைப்பின் தலைவர் பாஸ்டர் லியோ நெல்சன் தலைமையில் மாண்புமிகுசட்டப்பேரவை தலைவர் J C D பிரபாகர் அவர்களுக்கும், சமூக நலத்துறை அமைச்சர் மாண்புமிகு வன்னியரசு அவர்களுக்கும் நடந்த பாராட்டு விழாவில் கலந்துகொண்டு பாராட்டி உரையாற்றிய இனிய நிகழ்வு.. pic.twitter.com/rErzlgG7UW
— S.Peter Alphonse (@PeterAlphonse7) June 9, 2026
VCK MLA Vanni Arasu, the first Minister to head the newly created Social Justice Ministry in Tamil Nadu, said he was pleased to see a large number of pastors and church workers attending the event.
Vanni Arasu, who is alleged to have converted to Christianity while continuing to maintain a Hindu identity, won an election from an SC-reserved constituency.
According to Sampath, he assured those present that he would help spread their religion.
“Abolishing Sanatana and bringing Christianity to the forefront is their long-term goal and objective. They are now pulling the strings from backstage,” Sampath alleged.
அர்ஜுன் சம்பத் அறிக்கை!
09/06/2026 செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை சென்னையில் கிருஸ்தவ அமைப்புகள் சார்பில் கிருஸ்தவர்களான சபாநாயகர் ஜேசிடி பிரபாகர் மற்றும் வன்னியரசு இருவருக்கும் பாராட்டு விழா நடந்தது
*மதம் மாறிய கிருஸ்தவர்களுக்கு சலுகைகள் வேண்டும் என மாண்புமிகு அமைச்சர் வன்னியரசு மற்றும்… pic.twitter.com/bvFZmgMoX0
— Arjun Sampath (@imkarjunsampath) June 10, 2026
Arjun Sampath said that both Vanni Arasu and Prabhakar stressed reservation benefits and privileges for converted Christians during the meeting.
மதம் மாறிய தலித்துகளுக்கு இடஒதுக்கீடு – அமைச்சர் வன்னியரசு #vanniarasu #christian #vanniarasu #vck #bctamil #ibctamilinterview pic.twitter.com/D6vgovbayz
— IBC Tamil (@ibctamilmedia) June 9, 2026
“It is not fit for a Speaker holding such an important constitutional post. He should avoid such speeches. It is against the ideologies of Dr Ambedkar,” he said.
Hindu Munnani strongly condemned Minister Vanni Arasu and the Speaker for speeches that, according to the organisation, could stoke communal clashes in the state. It said such speeches were against national unity and could undermine social harmony.
மதவெறியைத் தூண்டும் நோக்கோடு பேசிய தமிழக அமைச்சரை வன்மையாகக் கண்டிக்கிறோம்…
முன்னாள் திமுக அரசின் கூட்டணி கட்சியான விடுதலை சிறுத்தைகள் கட்சி எம்.எல்.ஏ, தற்போதைய சமூகநலத்துறை அமைச்சர் திரு.வன்னியரசு, கிறிஸ்தவ அமைப்பு கூட்டத்தில் மத்திய அரசுக்கு எதிராக தேச ஒற்றுமையை சீர்குலைக்க… pic.twitter.com/2TdmTRz81A
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) June 11, 2026
Hindu Munnani State President Kadeswara Subramaniam said, “DMK, Congress, VCK, IUML, Muslim organisations and Left parties are stoking division in the country through their activities and speeches. They want to create communal unrest in the state and are destabilising the TVK government through their actions.”
தமிழகத்தில் திமுக, காங்கிரஸ், விசிக, முஸ்லீம் லீக், முஸ்லீம் அமைப்புக்கள், கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சிகள் முதலான கட்சிகள், அமைப்புகள் தேசத்திற்கு எதிரான வன்முறையைத் தூண்டி வருகின்றன. இதனால் மதவாத சமூக பதட்டத்தை ஏற்படுத்தி புதிதாக தமிழகத்தில் பொறுப்பேற்றுள்ள, அரசியல் முன் அனுபவமில்லாத தமிழக… pic.twitter.com/e4DsCRKO8m
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) June 11, 2026
In another related development, Vanni Arasu has been demanding the release of Muslim prisoners, including those convicted in bomb blast cases.
In a post sharing photographs with families of prisoners, along with Makkala Jananayaga Katchi leader K.M. Sherif and Manitha Neya Jananayaga Katchi General Secretary Haroon Rashid, he stated: “I assured them that our long-standing efforts for their release would bear fruit.”
தமிழக முஸ்லிம் சிறைவாசிகள் குடும்பங்கள் கூட்டமைப்பின் பொறுப்பாளர்கள் மற்றும் சிறைவாசிகளின் குடும்பத்தினர் நேற்று (10.06.2026) தலைமைச் செயலகத்தில் என்னை சந்தித்தனர். இச்சந்திப்பின் போது தமிழக மக்கள் ஜனநாயக கட்சியின் தலைவர் திரு. கே.எம்.சரீப் மற்றும் மனிதநேய ஜனநாயக கட்சியின் பொதுச்… pic.twitter.com/5UOLSp78Hd
— வன்னி அரசு (@VanniTamizhVCK) June 11, 2026
Tamil Nadu BJP State Secretary Ashvathaman claimed that VCK MLA Vanni Arasu had been convicted in a murder case. Public election affidavits and court records indicate that Vanni Arasu (born Jayaraj) was sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case (Case No. SC 155/1998 in the Principal Sessions Court, Srivilliputhur) on July 14, 1999.
விசிக வனியரசு (@VanniKural )ஒரு கொலைக்குற்றவாளி , அதுவும் கொலை வழக்கில் ஆயுள்தண்டனை பெற்றவர்.
இரண்டு கொலை முயற்சி வழக்குகள்,
ஒரு பாஸ்போர்ட் மோசடி வழக்குமொத்தம் ஐந்து வழக்குகள் ! சிறுத்தைகள் மீது குறைந்தது ஐந்து கொடூர குற்ற வழக்குகள் இருக்க வேண்டும் என்று @thirumaofficial… pic.twitter.com/PhQQr3mbLs
— Ashvathaman Allimuthu (@asuvathaman) October 22, 2024
Do Not Generalise Muslims as Terrorists
In a detailed post, Ashvathaman said, “Vanni Arasu has taken up the demand for the release of convicts serving long prison terms, including those convicted in terrorism and bomb blast cases. In doing so, the Minister labels those convicted in such cases as ‘Islamic prisoners’.
Under this terminology, Muslims imprisoned for personal criminal offences are not included; only those convicted in terrorism and bomb blast cases are categorised as ‘Islamic prisoners’.
“Therefore, behind the practice of branding only those convicted in terrorism and bomb blast cases as ‘Islamic prisoners’ lies a hidden narrative that Muslims are naturally supportive of terrorism. Previously, Vanni Arasu expressed the view that the song ‘Vande Mataram’ is against Muslims. ‘Vande Mataram’ means ‘I bow to the Indian nation’.”
Do Not Generalize Muslims as Terrorists:
Condemnations Against Social Welfare Minister Vanni ArasuTN BJP State Secretary
Shri Ashvathaman's Press Release.Social Welfare Minister Vanni Arasu has taken up the demand to release convicts who have been serving long-term prison… pic.twitter.com/vU5bjSemlj
— Ashvathaman Allimuthu (@asuvathaman) June 6, 2026
Ashvathaman further stated, “According to Islamic fundamentalist ideology, it is argued that no one is worthy of worship except Allah and that, if one’s nation is not an Islamic state, one should not worship that nation. This argument is associated with Islamic fundamentalism or Wahhabism. Many terrorist organisations across the world operate on the basis of this ideology.
“By stating that the song ‘Vande Mataram’ is against Muslims, he is indirectly generalising all Muslims as fundamentalists. Continually portraying all Muslims as fundamentalists who do not wish to respect or honour the nation is unjust and condemnable.
“His party, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), has consistently supported Islamic fundamentalist elements. Vanni Arasu, who attended the funeral procession of Coimbatore bomb blast convict Basha, became emotional and addressed him as ‘father’.”
The BJP leader further said, “When Pakistani terrorists shot dead innocent tourists in the Pahalgam area of Kashmir, Thol. Thirumavalavan described the horrific incident as ‘an act committed to draw attention’. The VCK, which presents itself as a movement for the upliftment of the Scheduled Caste community, has increasingly become a platform for Islamic fundamentalist narratives.
“As part of this, the VCK has been generalising Muslim people as terrorist fundamentalists. However, making such assertions while holding the office of Social Welfare Minister is anti-people and anti-democratic. Therefore, Social Welfare Minister Vanni Arasu must stop referring to terrorism and bomb blast convicts as ‘Islamic prisoners’.”
