MADURAI: Taking on the BJP and its religious Vetrivel yatra, DMK president M K Stalin said those who were using Hinduism as a tool against his party were unaware of what the DMK had done for Hinduism. “They are trying to play on the sentiments of people using religion as a tool to divide them,” said Stalin on Wednesday, addressing the party’s virtual ‘Thamilagam Meetpom’ (Retrieve Tamil Nadu) campaign for the districts of Tirunelveli and Tenkasi.
“Today, there are many who claim to have taken an incarnation to protect religion and spirituality,” said Stalin. “In reality it is the DMK which protected temples and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department (HR&CE),” he said. There had not been a separate ministry for the HR and CE before 1970 as it was clubbed with another department, said the DMK leader.
The renovation of more than 5000 temples was carried out between 1967 and 1975 during the DMK rule. During 1996-2001, as many as 2,459 temples were renovated and it was during the rule of ‘Kalaignar’ (former DMK president M Karunanidhi) that the properties and wealth of temples increased, he said.
“They are trying to use Hinduism as a tool to develop their party, which is stunted, and trying to divide the Tamil people, who belong to the oldest civilization,” said Stalin. “Only love is eternal, not hate, only a gentle attitude would reap benefits not unruliness,” he said.
The divisive forces think that they can bring down the Tamil community by opposing the DMK, said Stalin slamming Union home minister Amit Shah for his speech during his recent visit to Chennai, when he had questioned what the opposition party had done for the state. “It only shows his ignorance about what is happening in Tamil Nadu,” said Stalin.
On Shah’s remarks about putting an end to “dynasty politics”, Stalin said, “Perhaps, he is referring to deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, who is trying to make his son a Union minister.” He listed out names of father-son duo in the BJP.
It was the DMK that ensured that people who were oppressed in society had access to education and jobs. “Anna (DMK founder C N Annadurai) and Periyar (DK founder E V Ramasamy) wanted the DMK to govern the state perpetually, not to develop the party but to uplift the people,” he said.
Recalling the historical importance of Tirunelveli, he said the consecration for the famous Nellaiappar temple had been performed after 700 years during the DMK regime. The first conference of DMK’s youth wing was held in Tirunelveli in the year 2007.