Lord Murugan devotees’ meet: AIADMK leader Udhayakumar condemns playing video ‘defaming’ Periyar, Anna

Senior AIADMK leader R.B. Udhayakumar on Tuesday (June 24, 2025) condemned the playing of a video documentary “defaming” Dravidar Kazhagam founder Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and DMK founder C.N. Annadurai at the Lord Murugan devotees’ conference held in Madurai on Sunday (June 22).

In a video statement released in Madurai, the Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly said his party would never accept the resolutions passed at the conference.

‘Expected no politics at meet’

According to Mr. Udhayakumar, the AIADMK leaders invited for the conference were promised that it would only be a devotees’ meet and that no politics would be discussed during the event.

“We participated in the conference only as devotees of Lord Murugan … with the confidence that no politics will be discussed,” Mr. Udhayakumar explained.

He clarified that the AIADMK leaders did not have any idea about the resolutions that were to be passed, the pledge to be taken, and other proceedings of the conference.

Responding to the criticism that the AIADMK leaders had remained silent when the audio-visual presentation critical of Periyar and Anna was played at the conference, Mr. Udhayakumar said the party leaders could not see the presentation as the giant screen was placed behind their chairs.

“Since we were on an invitation to the conference, we maintained stage decency … However, the AIADMK and its general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniwami will be the first to raise their voice to condemn, if there is a disgrace to Arignar Anna and the Father of Dravidian movement Thanthai Periyar,” he said.

‘AIADMK will never compromise’

“The AIADMK will never compromise on its principles and ideologies. Even the DMK knows this. But the ruling party is only using the conference as an excuse to defame the AIADMK,” he said.

He pointed out that the people of Tamil Nadu were aware of the decision taken by Mr. Palaniswami, when similar defamatory statements were made against Anna and former AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa.

He was hinting at the AIADMK severing ties with the BJP before the previous Lok Sabha election as its then State president K. Annamalai had made defamatory statements against the Dravidian party leaders.

Mr. Palaniswami would not compromise on the party’s ideologies irrespective of whether the AIADMK was the ruling party in Tamil Nadu or was in the Opposition.

The party had protested in connection with the Cauvery issue when it was in alliance with the BJP. Similarly, recently, it raised the issue of pending wages due to Tamil Nadu from the Centre under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Mr. Udhayakumar said.