BJP will remove all Periyar statues near temples if party comes to power in TN: K Annamalai
K Annamalai said in a rally at Srirangam that the minute BJP comes to power in Tamil Nadu, the saffron party will remove all the statues and flagpoles that say there is no god
Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai continues to court controversy. In a latest statement at a public rally, the controversial BJP leader has promised that if the BJP comes to power in the state, they will remove all the Periyar statues located near temples.
Annamalai, who made the comment during a meeting held at a venue between the famous Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam and Periyar statue, as part of his ‘En Mann En Makkal’ yatra on November 7, reiterated that all “atheistic” flag posts, notice boards and statues in front of all the temples will be removed once the saffron party forms the government in the state.
BJP resolution at Srirangam
In his talk, while slamming the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), he said that outside this very temple in 1967 when they came to power, they put up a plaque. “What does the plaque say? It says ‘those who believe in god are fools, those who believe in god have been tricked. Do not believe in god.” he said.
According to Annamalai, the DMK has put these plaques outside all temples and erected flags, as if they have accomplished something great. “But Hindus are living peacefully despite this. So today, the BJP has taken a resolution standing on the soil of Srirangam. The minute BJP comes to power in Tamil Nadu, we will remove all these statues and flagpoles that say there is no god,” he declared.
Annamalai was actually talking about the statue of the Dravidian leader, and rationalist Periyar, which is placed outside the Srirangam temple. A plaque beneath the statue bears an inscription of one of Periyar’s teachings: “There is no god, there is no god, there is no god at all. He who invented god is a fool. He who propagates god is a scoundrel. He who worships god is a barbarian”.
Further, the BJP president pledged that the party would replace the Periyar statues with that of statues of Alvar and Nayanar (Vaishnavite and Savaite) saints, Tamil poets, freedom fighters, and Thiruvalluvar, the celebrated ancient Tamil poet.
Against Sanatana dharma
Further, he promised that the first day of the BJP forming government will be the last day of the HR&CE department. "The department’s actions have been consistently against the Sanatana dharma safeguarded by Hindus," he claimed.
“In the 13th century, thousands of Vaishnavites gave up their life to protect Nam Perumal in the Srirangam temple. Such is the strength of Sanatana dharma. How will Udhayanidhi Stalin eradicate sanatana dharma when the Mughals could not?” he asked.
