Following MK Stalin’s recent visit to the Thirukoshtiyur temple in Sivaganga, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (AIADMK) has raised questions about Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) commitment to rationalist ideals and asked M Karunanidhi will he expel his son for this act.
In a column in party mouthpiece Namadhu MGR, AIADMK has asked Karunanidhi will he take action against Stalin by taking advice from DK leader K Veeramani for not following the rationalist ideas, co-relating it to Sivaji Ganesan who was criticised for visiting the Tirupati Venkateswara temple. “Or, will he accept that he is the one who let them (Stalin and family) pray in a discreet manner and apologize for criticising Lord Rama and maligning Hindus as thieves?” it asked.
According to sources in the Stalin camp, visiting the Vaishnavite temple in Sivaganga was originally not part of Stalin's schedule, but was a “last-minute inclusion.“ The DMK leader has allowed his wife to pray in the temple and he climbed up the gopurams with his hands on Ramanujar and posed for the shutterbugs.
Meanwhile, DMK’s Kalaignar TV is broadcasting a series on saint-philosopher-social reformer Ramanujar, which is scripted by Karunanidhi.
Attacking DMK leader Stalin for his temple visit, AIADMK said, “Did he go to elicit a reply for his father's query as to which engineering college Lord Rama graduated from?“
Denying Stalin’s visit had anything to do with theism, DK vice-president Kali Poongundran told The Times of India, “It appears that he went on an invite. The temple has an ancient history and is known for the significance of Ramanujar's visit,” the DK leader said.