Chennai: A fresh controversy erupted on Sunday when former DMK minister Anitha R Radhakrishnan addressed Tamil Nadu's Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) minister S Ramesh by his caste, referring to him as 'Ramesh Iyengar' in a statement. The remark drew an immediate and sharp response from Ramesh, who declared himself a follower of social reformer Periyar E V Ramasamy and stated that he does not use his caste as a surname.
Context of the Dispute
The confrontation began after Ramesh, who represents the Srirangam constituency, garlanded a statue of Periyar in his constituency on Saturday and shared the event on social media platform X. In response, Anitha released a statement in which he repeatedly addressed the minister as 'Ramesh Iyengar' three times. Condemning Ramesh's recent inspection of the Tiruchendur Murugan temple, Anitha said, 'Ramesh Iyengar had insulted Thirusundara Archakars (referring to some priests accused of swindling money from devotees in the name of VIP darshan). For several centuries, the Thirusundara Archakars have been guiding devotees to offer their prayers in the temple.'
Ramesh's Retort
Ramesh swiftly responded to Anitha on X, stating, 'Unlike you, I, a follower of Periyar, don't have the practice of using my caste as surname.' He also issued a stern warning to the Thirusundara Archakars, cautioning them against demanding money in the name of religious service. 'Obtaining money for service is not service to god and no god has asked us to do so,' Ramesh asserted.
Background of the Issue
The controversy traces back to Ramesh's recent inspection at the Tiruchendur Murugan temple, where a section of Thirusundara Archakars allegedly demanded money from him without realizing he was a minister. This incident sparked widespread debate, prompting Ramesh to issue a strong warning against priests demanding 'bribes' for services. The exchange has once again highlighted the sensitive issue of caste-based references in Tamil Nadu's political discourse.
