Video clip criticising Periyar, Anna played at Lord Murugan devotees’ conference in Madurai kicks up row

While BJP leaders rejoice over the “successful” conduct of the Muruga Bhaktargal (Lord Muruga devotees) conference in Madurai on Sunday (June 22, 2025), an audio-visual presentation of the history of the Hindu Munnani played at the gathering, reportedly depicting Dravidian stalwarts Periyar E.V. Ramsamy, C.N. Annadurai, and M. Karunanidhi in poor light, has sparked a controversy.

On Monday (Jue 23, 2025), AIADMK leader K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji, who had attended the conference with other senior party colleagues, expressed regret over the playing of the video clip at the event. “It should have been avoided,” the former AIADMK Minister said.

A still from the video clipping played at the Muruga Bhaktargal conference in Madurai
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Mr. Bhalaji said former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK founder Annadurai (whose name and image are embodied in the AIADMK and its flag) had numerous achievements to his credit. “He is the most important among the leaders who brought downtrodden people to political power. Rickshaw pullers and loadmen could become MLAs and Ministers only because of him. Some might not like the ideologies of Periyar [Dravidar Kazhagam founder], but many others might like them. Similarly, Anna’s writings and speeches could have hurt the sentiments of few. This video clipping might be a reflection of that,” he reasoned.

He said AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran and his successor in the party J. Jayalalithaa followed Anna’s principles. “It was Jayalalithaa who made a Backward Class person like me a Minister in her Cabinet,” he added. AIADMK general secretary Edapadi K. Palaniswami is also following their ideologies, he said.

“In the present-day political situation, it is better to talk about the good deeds of the former leaders. Criticising the progressive ideologies of these leaders and their actions in the past would lead to unnecessary debates,” he told reporters at Sivakasi.

The video clipping depicted Hindu Munnani as force that protected dharma and removed adharma. It also displayed photographs and cartoons purportedly lampooning Periyar, Anna, and Karunanidhi, besides Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, DMK MP A. Raja, and Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani.

The audio-visual presentation showed them as “adharmam” and “atheist foxes”.

The Madras High Court earlier directed the organisers not to mix politics with the devotees conference. While the speakers at the conference repeatedly said no politics was being discussed at the meet, speeches by various leaders, including Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, left no one in doubt about the political intent of the event. Though they avoided taking names of any leaders, the speakers made veiled but strong attacks on Dravidian leaders.