Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol. Thirumavalavan has stirred controversy after a video surfaced showing him wiping off vibhuti (sacred ash) from his forehead just as a couple approached him for a selfie. This appeared to be a calculated act of political optics—though he had earlier accepted vibhuti and a sacred garland during his temple visit, he deliberately wiped off the vibhuti in front of the cameras, seemingly to avoid being seen as aligned with Hindu traditions.
The move has been described by many as hypocritical, given that Thirumavalavan had openly participated in rituals at the Murugan temple in Thirupparankundram, considered the deity’s first abode—on 19 June 2025. Photos shared on his own social media accounts show him wearing the vibhuti as he offered prayers.
அறுபடை வீடுகளில் முதல் வீடான திருப்பரங்குன்றம் முருகன் கோவிலுக்கு இன்று சென்றேன்! pic.twitter.com/WoJLol1sLQ
— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) June 19, 2025
அறுபடை வீடுகளில் முதல் வீடான திருப்பரங்குன்றம் #முருகன் கோவிலுக்கு இன்று சென்றேன்! pic.twitter.com/fx552XPoVx
— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) June 19, 2025
The public act of wiping off the vibhuti has drawn criticism from various quarters, with many accusing Thirumavalavan of attempting to distance himself from Hindu symbolism for political or ideological gain but while during the same visit to Thiruparankundram, he proceeded to the nearby Sikkandar Hill dargah, where members of the Muslim community warmly received him and placed a skullcap on his head – an act he accepted with a smile.
Critics have labelled this as an example of selective secularism and hypocrisy, arguing that true secularism means either staying equidistant from all religions or treating them equally. Appeasing one religious group while dismissing or disrespecting another, they say, amounts to political opportunism that risks alienating the sentiments of the Hindu community.
"இதற்கு பெயர் தான் மதச்சார்பின்மையா"???🚨
இன்று மதுரை திருப்பரங்குன்றம் சென்றிருந்த திருமாவளவன்,
🔻"முருகன் கோவிலில் கொடுத்த திருநீறை அழிக்கிறார்".
🔻"சிக்கந்தர் பள்ளிவாசலில் தொப்பியை போட்டுக் கொள்கிறார்". pic.twitter.com/hUFgLuUUUo
— MR.Anil (@Saffron_Anil_) June 19, 2025
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