The Dravidianist ecosystem, which includes the Congress supporters, members and supporters of the DMK, has been trolling and abusing Hindus for wanting to exercise their right to light the Karthigai Deepam at the Deepathoon in Thirupparankundram Hill.
This opposition comes despite having a valid court order, despite having a no objection from the Muslim community – it seems as if only the Dravidianist ecosystem is hell bent on stopping Hindus from carrying out their centuries old rituals.
In this backdrop, a Tamil Nadu Congress leader Dhivya Marunthiah who is also the State Vice-President, OBC of the party, shared a video of Islamist terrorist Ahmed Ali, widely known as Palani Baba, in response to a post by Vedic scholar Dushyanth Sridhar, who had appeared on a News18 debate panel discussing the Karthigai Deepam dispute at Thirupparankundram Hill.
Dushyanth Sridhar’s Remarks on the Deepam Dispute
During the News18 panel, Sridhar criticised the state’s handling of the ongoing Karthigai Deepam controversy, calling the situation one of “injustice.” He highlighted five key points:
Thirupparankundram’s Antiquity: Sridhar described the hill temple as one of Tamil Nadu’s oldest cave temples, revered as a Shiva shrine in the 6th century and later celebrated as a major Murugan sthala in Tamil hymns, including Thiruppugazh.
Historical Architecture: He noted that the temple’s structure is carved into the granite hill, featuring architectural contributions from the Pandyas, Cholas and Nayaks, indicating continuous Hindu patronage.
Madurai Sultanate Period: Sridhar referred to the 14th-century Madurai Sultanate, calling its rulers tyrannical, and questioned how an Islamic structure associated with the last Sultan emerged atop the temple centuries later.
Festival Rights and HC Orders: He explained that the Thirukkarthigai festival historically involves lighting a lamp at the hill’s Deepathoon. After devotees sought relief from the Madras High Court, the court ruled that Hindus had the right to light the lamp. He criticised the HR&CE Department for citing “law and order concerns” to prevent implementation.
Police Blockade: Sridhar said devotees were stopped despite a High Court mandate, arguing that Hindus were unable to assert their traditional rights even after legal affirmation.
INJUSTICE is the word. Context below: (with @CNNnews18)
(1) Thiruparamkudram is an ancient cave temple in Madurai (TN). It has been revered as a Siva temple in the 6th century by Tamizh saints. The same temple houses Skanda/Kartikeya revered as Muruga which has been sung in all… pic.twitter.com/klZy4NfTBi
— Dushyanth Sridhar (@dushyanthsridar) December 3, 2025
Marunthiah reposted Sridhar’s detailed commentary on the historical and religious significance of the Thirupparankundram temple complex, quoting it along with a video in which Palani Baba is seen issuing threats to BJP and Hindu Munnani supporters. The resurfaced clip shows Ali saying: “Today you say you are BJP, Hindu Munnani… I am giving you a final warning. Stay at home and cultivate humanity with love and affection. If you become the agent of a north Indian dog,”
Very conveniently, she did not share the last few seconds of that clip. In that portion, he says, “I tell you once again, I will become an extremist.”
Here is the full clipping.
Palani Baba, who has long been associated with extremist activities in Tamil Nadu, has previously faced allegations relating to radical Islamist mobilisation and has been cited in multiple police dossiers.
Who Is Palani Baba?
Palani Baba, whose real name was Ahmed Ali, was a notorious figure in Tamil Nadu’s history of Islamic terrorism. Born in Pudhu Ayakkudi, a village near Palani in Dindigul district, Ahmed Ali was raised by his maternal uncle after the death of his parents. He became involved in nefarious activities during his college years, causing embarrassment to his family. Ali went on to establish the All India Jihad Committee (AIJC) in 1986, an Islamist fundamentalist organization, and was known for his connections to groups like the All India Milli Council, which was reportedly linked to Saudi-Wahhabi ideologies.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Tamil Nadu witnessed the rise of Islamic fundamentalist groups, and Ahmed Ali capitalized on this wave. During MGR’s rule, he became known for his controversial activities, which drew the attention of the DMK under Karunanidhi. The DMK reportedly supported him to oppose MGR, even though Ali’s rhetoric and actions were divisive, including his claims of ties with the LTTE. By 1990, Ali had garnered significant support from the DMK. It is to be noted that Ahmed Ali addressed MGR in singular in whichever public meeting he spoke. Dressed like Yasar Arafat, Ahmed Ali made vitriolic speeches against Hindus and was instrumental in fomenting violence against the Hindus especially in the Coimbatore region.
Ahmed Ali was involved in various killings of Hindus in Coimbatore. In 1990, Israeli intelligence arrested a Palestinian student who was studying in south India. During interrogation it was revealed that there was a possible presence of internationally linked Islamic terror cells in Coimbatore. However, the Israeli warnings were rejected by local police and intelligence. Ali’s involvement in violent acts against Hindus escalated during the early 1990s, and his influence grew further with the formation of Al Ummah, a jihadist group connected to organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Pakistan’s ISI. The group was implicated in several bombings, most notably the 1998 Coimbatore bombings, which targeted prominent political figures, including LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi.
Despite his ties to DMK and other political entities like the PMK, Ali’s violent actions eventually led to a fallout with his former supporters. He was assassinated on 28 January 1997, outside his home by a group of six people, allegedly in retaliation for his anti-Hindu rhetoric and the killing of two Hindu activists earlier that year. Though his death was surrounded by controversy, including some unsubstantiated claims about personal disputes, his legacy remains one of spreading Islamic extremism in Tamil Nadu during a turbulent time.
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