Whenever individuals or institutions raise nationalistic issues or attempt to reconnect with Bharatiya traditions, the Left and pseudo-liberals often claim that the Constitution is under attack or that secularism is at risk. Similar allegations have now surfaced after Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister Vinoth took the highlights of the State Agriculture Budget to the Tirumala temple to seek the blessings of Bhagwan Venkateswara ahead of the Budget session.
The criticism was led by CPI(M) MP Su Venkatesan, who has come under severe criticism himself over alleged double standards after objecting to the minister’s visit to Tirupati with a draft of budget linked agriculture.
Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister Vinoth drew criticism on August 1 after taking a copy of the State’s Agriculture Budget highlights to the Tirumala temple in Tirupati to seek blessings ahead of the Assembly session scheduled to begin on August 5.
Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson will present the first General Budget of the TVK government for 2026–27 on August 5. The Agriculture Budget for 2026–27 is scheduled to be tabled in the Assembly on August 6.
Reportedly, Vinoth posed for photographs with a draft copy of the Agriculture Budget, which he is scheduled to present before the Tamil Nadu Assembly on August 6. However, he later clarified that it was only the highlights of the Budget and not the entire document.
The TVK government has decided to continue the practice of the previous DMK dispensation, which introduced a separate Budget for agriculture. Speaking to the media after having darshan of Bhagwan Venkateswara, Vinoth said, “I came to Tirumala to seek the blessings of Bhagwan Balaji before the Budget.”
Traditionally, people also take important documents to temples and seek the blessings of Bhagwan before initiating any auspicious or major undertaking, praying for the success of the project.
However, the minister’s act of taking the government document to Tirumala drew criticism from Left leaders.
CPI(M) MP Su Venkatesan questioned the decision in a post on X, stating that Budget documents were “neither offerings to the divine nor spiritual items” but constitutional documents explaining how taxpayers’ money would be spent. He further argued that turning political documents into offerings based on individual religious beliefs was unconstitutional.
https://x.com/SuVe4Madurai/status/2083453547325308966?s=20
Self-proclaimed environmental activist and pro-DMK supporter Sundarrajan, along with Madurai CPI(M) MP Su Venkatesan, criticised the Tamil Nadu government on August 1, alleging that the move was contrary to the secular character of the State.
https://x.com/ashok777_kalam/status/2083527047163621482?s=20
Sundarrajan said, “If the Agriculture Budget can be taken to Tirupati for worship, will Finance Minister Marie Wilson next take the State Budget to a church? Has the government forgotten that it is constitutionally secular? Who demanded that you take the Budget document to Tirupati? Is this your secular stance, Chief Minister?”
He further said, “While farmers are worried about the dried Cauvery, the Agriculture Minister is visiting Tirupati, the Water Resources Minister is not providing answers, and the Chief Minister remains silent.”
Sundarrajan led the legal battle against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant and the Parandur Airport near Chennai.
Sundarrajan also asked, “How many times have you travelled around the Delta districts in the past three months, @vinothravi11? After all, Kumbakonam is your home constituency—more than anyone else, you should know in detail the pain inflicted on the farmers due to the drought-like situation.”
Questioning Venkatesan and others for their silence during the DMK regime, critics pointed out that then Agriculture Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam had placed the Agriculture Budget documents at Karunanidhi’s memorial at Marina. They argue that Venkatesan’s selective criticism reflects his anti-Hindu mentality. They also point out that his party is extending outside support to the TVK government.
Critics ask, “For Venkatesan and others, taking documents to a burial ground was secular and within constitutional norms, but taking them to Tirumala is objectionable and anti-Constitutional. What a mockery. Is it because the DMK paid Left parties in crores that they remained silent?”
The maiden Budget of the TVK government has generated high expectations, particularly regarding the implementation of welfare schemes promised during the party’s election campaign.
Su Venkatesan had earlier reportedly mocked the wedding rituals of Maata Meenakshi following the famous annual celestial marriage of Meenakshi with Sundareswarar. He has also made several rabid Hindu-phobic, anti-BJP and anti-RSS remarks in the past. Despite these controversies, voters in Madurai re-elected him with a comfortable margin in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
