According to the complaint, the Murugan Devotees’ Conference was used as a political propaganda platform in the run-up to the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections, mixing religion with politics and demeaning Lord Murugan and his devotees.
Published Jun 27, 2025 | 10:52 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 27, 2025 | 11:10 AM
An image from Murugan Devotees' Conference held in Madurai.
Synopsis: A complaint was filed at the office of Madurai City Police Commissioner by the Madurai Makkal Matha Nallinakka Kootamaippu alleging that the recent Murugan Devotees’ Conference held in Madurai violated a directive from the Madras High Court, which had clearly stated that no political resolutions or speeches should be part of such religious gatherings.
A major political and legal controversy erupted in Tamil Nadu following the Murugan Devotees’ Conference held in Madurai on 22 June by the Hindu Munnani organisation.
The event witnessed the participation of prominent political figures, including Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan, Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran, former state BJP president K Annamalai, and several other key leaders, along with thousands of devotees.
During the event, participants collectively recited the Kanda Sashti Kavasam, a devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Murugan, and worshipped in what was publicly positioned as a religious gathering.
However, following the event, strong objections emerged alleging that the event violated a directive from the Madras High Court, which had clearly stated that no political resolutions or speeches should be part of such religious gatherings.
Amidst these developments, a formal complaint was filed at the office of Madurai City Police Commissioner J Lokanathan by the Madurai Makkal Matha Nallinakka Kootamaippu (Madurai People’s Social Harmony Federation).
The complainant sought immediate legal action under the National Security Act (NSA) against Pawan Kalyan, Nainar Nagendran, Annamalai, and Hindu Munnani Tamil Nadu President Kadeswara Subramanian, along with other organisers of the event.
According to the complaint, the Murugan Devotees’ Conference was used as a political propaganda platform in the run-up to the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections, mixing religion with politics and demeaning Lord Murugan and his devotees.
The event allegedly included communal and inflammatory resolutions, aiming to incite religious hatred between Hindus, Muslims, and Christians.
It is further alleged that speeches at the event portrayed Islam and Christianity as “foreign Arab religions” and claimed that by 2055, the population of these religious groups would increase significantly — a dog-whistle towards communal polarisation.
The complainants argue that this rhetoric not only violates the sanctity of religious worship but threatens the secular fabric and public peace of Tamil Nadu, potentially harming national unity and state security.
Speaking to the media, federation coordinator and Advocate Vanjinathan condemned the police for not acting on the high court’s directives. He insisted that the court should initiate suo motu contempt proceedings against the organisers for undermining judicial authority.
Vanjinathan also criticised the BJP’s consistent effort to portray all Tamils as Hindus and politicise Lord Murugan’s identity, stating: “Why say ‘Murugan is Hindu’ and mix it with ‘Ram Rajya’? Are H Raja, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Mohan Bhagwat going to eat meat with us and still say they are Hindus? Will H Raja remove his sacred thread and speak? Will Nirmala Sitharaman talk after eating garlic and onions? Will they tolerate such a portrayal if the roles were reversed?”
He also slammed the organisers’ declaration that Tamil Nadu would be ‘cleansed of Dravidianism’, calling it a veiled attack on Tamil social reform icons like Periyar and CN Annadurai, and accused the BJP and Hindu Munnani of weaponising religion to attack Tamil cultural identity.
In a pointed remark, Vanjinathan criticised the silence of AIADMK leaders, including ministers, and questioned the dignity and self-respect of those still allied with the BJP.
“This is a complete insult. Their own leaders are being humiliated, and yet they stay silent,” he said.
He further alleged tokenism and casteism in the BJP’s alliance practices, “Leaders like Krishnasamy and John Pandian were not even invited. They’ve been tossed out like curry leaves. Tomorrow, if the BJP comes to power, only H Raja and Nirmala Sitharaman will hold posts, not the ones who did the groundwork.”
He further claimed that leaders like GK Vasan — of the Tamil Maanila Congress — and Anbumani Ramadoss — of the Pattali Makkal Katchi — would suffer the same fate, being used for optics and discarded without power.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
