DMK MP Kanimozhi Condemns BJP-AIADMK Over Thiruparankundram Incident
In a fiery campaign speech in Madurai on Thursday, Tuticorin MP Kanimozhi launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). She accused them of attempting to incite violence and communal riots over the Thiruparankundram issue, but asserted that local residents had delivered a fitting rebuke to their efforts.
Allegations of Communal Provocation and Unity in Tamil Nadu
While campaigning for DMK candidate Kiruthiga Thangapandi in Thiruparankundram, Kanimozhi emphasized Tamil Nadu's long-standing tradition of communal harmony. "Tamil Nadu is a state where people have lived in unity as brothers and sisters of one family for generations. Regardless of their religion, everyone possesses religious faith. However, development remains the priority of the people," she stated.
She alleged that the BJP had hoped to seize power by sparking communal riots in Thiruparankundram, mirroring tactics she claimed they have employed in other parts of India. "Thiruparankundram will be the starting point to prove there is no place for these ‘Sanghis’ in Tamil Nadu," Kanimozhi declared, using a term often associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP's ideological parent.
Defending DMK's Record on Temple Management
Addressing accusations that the DMK government is anti-temple and anti-Hindu, Kanimozhi presented data to counter these claims. She revealed that under DMK rule, more than 4,000 temples have undergone consecration ceremonies, and nearly 7,500 acres of temple land have been successfully recovered. This, she argued, demonstrates the party's commitment to preserving and managing Hindu religious sites effectively.
Campaign Trail and Broader Political Criticisms
During her campaign tour, Kanimozhi also supported other candidates, including M Boominathan of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) in Madurai South and Minister P T R Palanivel Thiaga Rajan in Madurai Central. She began her campaign from Keeladi, which she described as the ‘motherland of the Tamils.’
Kanimozhi accused the Union government of withholding the Keeladi excavation report, suggesting it is because the findings do not support the imposition of Hindi or the dominance of Sanskrit. "The Union government was refusing to release the Keeladi excavation report because it cannot impose Hindi or establish the dominance of Sanskrit through it," she claimed, adding that AIADMK has aligned itself with such a BJP.
Personal Attacks and Election Stakes
In a personal jab at AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, Kanimozhi predicted that his political future is limited to a governor post. She accused him of shamelessly suggesting that the Keeladi excavation report be modified to suit certain narratives.
Kanimozhi framed the upcoming election as a direct conflict between Tamils and Nagpur, the RSS headquarters, which she alleged seeks to undermine the pride of Keeladi. She also labeled Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay as the "B-team of BJP," extending her criticism to other political figures perceived as aligned with the BJP's agenda.
Overall, Kanimozhi's remarks highlighted deep-seated political tensions in Tamil Nadu, with the DMK positioning itself as a defender of Tamil identity and communal harmony against what it portrays as divisive forces from the BJP and its allies.
