DMK MP Dr.Senthil Kumar who had earlier made a ruckus at a Bhumi Puja ceremony and abused a Brahmin pujari has again objected to the ceremony being performed for a government project. This time he tweeted against Bhumi Puja being performed on the land given by a Shaivite math for building a new bus station.
In July 2022, Lok Sabha MP and DMK leader Dr.Senthil Kumar ranted against Bhumi Puja for a renovation project under the Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana scheme organised by the Public Welfare Department. He had demanded that a Christian padre, an Imam and atheists be present in the event to maintain ‘secularism’.
Taking objection to the presence of a Brahmin pujari, he said, “This is a government for everyone. It is a Dravidian model government. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have called him. You should have called a Christian priest, an Imam and some atheists”. He talked rudely to the Brahmin pujari asking him to leave the place immediately.
Later in September 2022, he kicked the bricks kept for Bhumi Puja at another instance in another place, enraging even DMK cadre. He was invited to the Bhumi Puja of a new library building in his constituency. Upon seeing the bricks smeared with turmeric and Kumkum as a part of the rituals to be performed at the Bhumi Puja, he reportedly kicked them away. He also lashed out at the organisers for conducting the ceremony in the Hindu way.
Local DMK cadre said that he also threatened the organiser saying that he’ll cancel the contract if tilaks are applied. It is to be noted that in this event a non-Brahmin pujari was present. Despite saying that he doesn’t have any objection to Bhumi Puja but that people from all religions should be called to perform the ritual, he has objected to the ritual being called as Bhumi Puja now.
On December 7, the Bhumi Puja ceremony for a new bus station in the Mayiladuthurai district was held at 6.30 in the morning. Lok Sabha MP, MLA of the constituency, the district collector and others were present during the ritual. Sri Kayilai Masilamani Desika Gnanasambantha Paramacharya Swamy, the chief pontiff of Dharumai Aadheenam, the Shaivite math in Mayiladuthurai, was also invited. Invitations to the event, calling it a Bhumi Puja to be blessed by the Adeenam, circulated on social media and MP Senthil Kumar took notice of it.
Addressing Mayiladuthurai district administration, he tweeted that as “the constitution says that India is a secular country, Mayiladuthurai being a municipality located in India, the event should be called foundation laying ceremony, inauguration ceremony or groundbreaking ceremony” the district administration should keep it in mind. He neglected even to consider that Dharumai Aadheenam had given the land on which the new bus stand would be built.
Even though it might appear to the naked eye that the MP is merely changing goalposts every now and then, it is actually a sinister agenda to stop the ritual altogether. To a reasonable mind, it would be surprising that a person representing people of all religions doesn’t know that only Hindus perform Bhumi Puja. Even if invited, a Christian priest or an Imam can do nothing as they don’t worship Bhuma Devi or have groundbreaking rituals.
If one remembers a Christian priest who openly said that he campaigned for the DMK candidate in Kanyakumari, abused Bhuma Devi saying, “we wear shoes so that we don’t catch scabies from her”. So the MP’s attempts to appear like he is only trying to be ‘secular’ is a sham. Considering this, it would appear that MP Senthil Kumar is actually dog-whistling rabid Dravidian organizations to interrupt Bhumi Puja performed at government events.
Earlier this month, Dravidian goons protested against a temple consecration ceremony and tried to demolish the yagasala. The concerned temple is located inside the premises of Erode Corporation Office and predates the latter. Yet the Dravidianist Periyarist goons had the gall to claim that it was against the “Dravidian Model” and brought crowbars and shovels to demolish the yagasala. This is the kind of behaviour the likes of MP Senthil Kumar encourage.
