Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has issued a strong statement during his address at the Murugan Conference in Madurai, warning those who, in his view, “mock or provoke” Hindu beliefs, particularly devotees of Lord Murugan.
His remarks, seen as a veiled criticism of the DMK, accused certain political leaders of promoting “dangerous separatist ideas” and selectively targeting Hindu practices under the guise of secularism.
Without naming the DMK directly, Pawan Kalyan referred to a political leader who had questioned why the Murugan Conference was being held in Tamil Nadu instead of states like Uttar Pradesh.
Recalling his own religious upbringing, he said, “I went to Sabarimala at the age of 14. I went to school with vibhuti (holy ash) on my forehead. But something changed as they asked why I was wearing it as Hindus are secularists. They have a problem if someone is a Hindu as they call it religious fanatic. I have the right to celebrate my religion. Who are you to question it? Even if you don’t respect my religion, do not disrespect it.”
Pawan Kalyan also strongly criticised what he described as a tendency among some self-proclaimed atheists and secularists to only mock Hinduism while remaining silent on other religions. “Can you ask the same questions about religions that originated in Arabia?”
Calling Lord Murugan not just a Tamil deity, but a pan-Indian one revered by different names across regions, the Deputy CM urged devotees to remain united in the face of what he described as repeated provocations.
“Murugan is the Tamil God, but he is everywhere. Karthikeya in the North, Subramania in Andhra and Karnataka. I pray to him and that is why the Murugan Conference is held in Madurai”, said Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan.
“If a sadhu gets angry, even a forest cannot stand,” he warned, adding that Hindus should not be ashamed of expressing pride in their faith.
He went on to condemn past instances where devotional hymns like Kanda Sashti Kavasam were allegedly mocked, describing such actions as an attack on the sentiments of Tamil Hindus.
“Let us take a resolve. Let us get together. Love is not weakness but a symbol of courage. Murugan destroyed Surapadman but as this is kali yugam, let us turn into Murugan and destroy evil,” he said.
“Secularism is a convenient word for those who don’t believe in God. But our atheists, instead of not believing in any God, don’t believe only in Hindu Gods. Secularists show no discrimination against any other religion except Hinduism. They don’t have the gut to point at any religion except Hinduism. Constitution gave them the greatest weapon called freedom of speech which they use against our Gods,” he added.