“Surprised by DMK’s Murugan Conference? Don’t be — it’s just a Tactical Engagement with Hinduism”, Swarajyamag, August 26, 2024:

“A lot of people have been surprised on seeing that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government through the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HRCE) Department is conducting an international conference on Lord Muruga (Karthikeya). This is because just around a year ago, the DMK scion, Udhayanidhi Stalin, had called for the eradication of Sanatana Dharma by comparing it to diseases like dengue and malaria, and leaders of the party often talk about separating religion and politics.

While some drew connections to an alleged increase in closeness between the DMK and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) due to the praise showered on former chief minister M Karunanidhi recently, others said that this ‘change’ is a victory of Sanatana Dharma. The surprise, however, is mainly because not many know that despite all the talk of atheism and controversial remarks about god by Dravidian ideologue E V Ramasamy, a sizeable number of DMK leaders, members and voters are practising Hindus.

Chief Minister M K Stalin’s wife Durga Stalin, is known to visit temples, and made headlines a few months ago, after she offered a golden crown at the Guruvayoor temple. A video of her elaborate puja room can be seen here.  Their son-in-law, V Sabareesan, had conducted a yagna in Tiruchendur, which is one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga in Tamil Nadu. The yagna was reportedly done for shatru-samhara, ie, to finish off one’s enemies……”

Read the full article at Swarajyamag.com