Tamil Nadu Social Justice Minister and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Vanni Arasu’s statement that his party would take a vow to protect the state from Sanatana Dharma has triggered strong reactions, with critics questioning the VCK’s anti-Sanatana stand and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanding Chief Minister Vijay’s response. Arasu made the statement on September 17, 2026, while marking the birth anniversary of rationalist EV Ramasamy Naicker.
While marking the birth anniversary of EV Ramasamy Naicker, Minister in the TVK government and VCK leader Vanniarasu pledged to destroy Sanatana Dharma. Vanniarasu said that the reformist leader had no compromise against Sanatana Dharma. He said his party, which helped Chief Minister Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) form government earlier this year, would take a vow to protect Tamil Nadu from Sanatana Dharma.
The remarks drew reactions from political leaders and people on social media, with BJP Tamil Nadu chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy saying that Vanniarasu was making such remarks for “political gains and cheap publicity”, while asking CM Vijay to clarify the remarks of his ally. TVK spokesperson Amerikai Narayanan also distanced the party from Vanniarasu’s remarks, saying, “Let’s be clear that he has not talked as our minister. He belongs to a different party.”
On September 17, Dravidian stocks in Tamil Nadu celebrated rationalist EV Ramasamy Naicker’s birth anniversary. Both AIADMK, DMK, its allies VCK and TVK, and Seeman’s NTK organised events to remember him.
Vanniarasu is known as a rabid Hindu hater. He even used the floor of the Assembly to attack the PM personally and the BJP and RSS. He has been vociferous in opposing Sanatana Dharma, like his leader Thol Thirumalavalan.
One of the netizens said Vanniarasu said Periyar fought patriarchy and caste, stood firmly against Sanatan, and that the VCK would work to abolish Sanatan and protect Tamil Nadu’s rights. Will Vijay’s TVK publicly respond to its ally’s statement, or choose to remain silent and approve?
SHOCKING: VCK leader and Tamil Nadu Minister Vanni Arasu, an ally of Vijay’s TVK, has pledged to “eradicate Sanatanam” while speaking on Periyar’s birth anniversary.
Arasu said Periyar fought patriarchy and caste, stood firmly against Sanatan, and that the VCK would work to…
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) September 17, 2026
Critics said both Vanniarasu and Thol Thirumavalavan followed Christian rituals in their families at all kinds of family functions. Their religion follows different burial grounds and discrimination. Let him first correct these issues and come to the Hindu religion. Vanniarasu has been pressing for the extension of reservation benefits to converted Cyrpto Christians and Muslims.
Earlier in 2023, the then Dy CM Udhaya Nidhi Stalin compared Sanatana to dengue, malaria and wanted its destruction. He has been facing multiple cases in the country. Again this year, he said in the Assembly that Sanatana eradication was the need of the hour, which he would pursue vigorously. Madurai Central constituency MLA VMS Mustafa echoed Udhaya Nidhi’s vow and faced outrages from Hindus. DMK MP A Raja, VCK Thirumavalavan have been parroting the eradication of Sanatana in all possible means.
Reacting to Vanniarasu’s comments, TN chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said that he was making such remarks for “political gains and cheap publicity. Nobody can eradicate Sanatana Dharma. CM Vijay, has to clarify the remarks of Vanniarasu who is one the ally supporting his government. Vanniarasu is a minister and should talk responsibly. If he is not responsible enough, I think Chief Minister Vijay has to call him and ask him to behave properly. If it is not so, then we will take it that this government wants these supporters who are hating the Hindu religion,”.
TVK spokesperson Amerikai Narayanan, who quit Congress recently, distancing from Vanniarasu’s remarks saying “Let’s be clear that he has not talked as our minister. He belongs to a different party. We are very clear. Our Chief Minister, unlike the Dravidian model government, has wished the Tamil Nadu people on Krishna Janmashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi,” he said, striking a secular note. We believe in Periyar but not his anti-God statements.
Earlier, Chief Minister Vijay paid floral tributes to EV Ramasamy on his 147th birth anniversary in Chennai. To commemorate the occasion, he administered the Social Justice Day pledge to officials and citizens, reaffirming the state’s dedication to equality and social reform.
Delivering the pledge, CM Vijay stated, “I will follow as my way of life the loving principle of ‘All beings are equal by birth’, and the virtuous principle of ‘All places are one, all people are my kin’! My actions will be with a personality that has rationalism and a rational outlook!”.
BREAKING:
CM Vijay Vijay takes the PLEDGE on the occasion of Periyar E.V. Ramasamy’s birth anniversary. pic.twitter.com/EXHGwgaKKM
— Actor Vijay Team (@SuchitraKarthi5) September 17, 2026
He said “I will dedicate myself to the principles of Equality, Brotherhood, and Socialism! I will always cherish love for humanity and humanism. On this day, I pledge to build a society founded on social justice!”.
YouTuber Karthik Gopinath said “This is wrong ! He was a British Sympathiser who wanted the colonists to stay back. There are dozens of other great men who have done a way lot more for social justice. Ayya Vaigundar , Vallalar, Mahakavi Bharathi et al! The d stocks purposefully glorified him selectively for their political gains. Disappointing to see you praise this man.”
This is wrong ! He was a British Sympathiser who wanted the colonists to stay back . There are dozens of other great men who have done a way lot more for social justice . Ayya Vaigundar , Vallalar, Mahakavi Bharathi et al ! The d stocks purposefully glorified him selectively for… https://t.co/b4CTtcxRHk
— karthik gopinath (@karthikgnath) September 17, 2026
Former DD News Reader Shobana Ravi said “he wore chappels on my God . Threatened poor hapless brahmins, cut their sacred threat,tuft and kept in them in jute bags. How he was superior than our poet Bharathi ‘ I do not know”.
நான் வணங்கும் தெய்வத்துக்குச் செருப்பு மாலை அணிவித்தார். ஏழை பிராமணர்களை பயமுறுத்தி அவர்கள் பூணூலையும் சிகையையும் அறுத்துச் சாக்குப் பைகளில் அடைக்கச் செய்தார். பாரதியை காட்டிலும் என்ன சீர்திருத்தம் செய்தாரென்று தெரியவில்லையே.#ஈவேரா https://t.co/BAMiAfUXMs
— Shobana Ravi, Author. (@ShobanaRaviNews) September 17, 2026
Reacting to the Annamalia post EV Ramasamy on social media, Thuglak editor, S Gurumurthy said “Annamalai may also add EVR also said Tamil is Barbaric language. Tamils are barbaric people. Silappathikaram is prostitute. Thirukkural is human stool kept in golden plate. Tamil poets are lazy fools. Communists survive by licking the boots of others. Congress, should be destroyed. Muslims are human waste. All these also constitute his inclusive social justice.
Annamalai may also add
EVR also said Tamil is Barbaric language.
Tamil’s are barbaric people.
Silappathikaram is prostitute.
Thirukkural is human stool kept in golden plate.
Tamil poets are lazy fools.
Communists survive by licking the boots of others.
Congress should… https://t.co/qZVgr89s4B
— S Gurumurthy (@sgurumurthy) September 17, 2026
Critics said “there are so many reformers earlier in Tamil Nadu like Ramanujar, saints, Muthuramalinga Thevar, Vaidyanatha Iyer to name few. EVR was a stooge of British govt. and did not want India attain freedom. He was a builtup image by dravidian stocks who solely fought against Brahmins accusing them for root cause of all evils facing society. He married his caregiver half of his age. He was against women empowerment”.
