Congress-Ally VCK Chief And Sitting MP Thirumavalavan Supports Terrorists, Labels Terror By Pakistan-Based LeT, Hamas, And Maoists As ‘Counter-Terrorism’ Against Government
In a controversial statement that sparked widespread backlash, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader and Chidambaram MP Thol. Thirumavalavan appeared to offer a justification for terrorism, suggesting that such acts were directed against the government and not civilians. This comment came in reference to the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which was responsible for the recent brutal Pahalgam attack that left 26 tourists dead—25 of them Hindus. The perceived attempt to downplay the group’s religiously motivated violence has ignited a firestorm, particularly as Thirumavalavan’s party is an ally of the DMK.
The controversy arose during the “Tamil Nadu! Stop the concentration of central power! Fight for state autonomy!” seminar held at Kamaraj Arena in Chennai, organized by the notorious anarchist organization Makkal Athikaram (People’s Power). This is the same organization that instigated the Sterlite riots in Thoothukudi.
During his speech, Thirumavalavan launched a scathing critique of the Central Government, particularly targeting the BJP and RSS for what he sees as an erosion of secular values. He condemned moves like the abrogation of Article 370 and amendments to the Waqf Act, portraying them as part of a broader agenda to turn India from a secular nation into a Hindu Rashtra.
Thirumavalavan argued that defending secularism is today’s most urgent challenge. He described secularism as the lifeblood of the Constitution and accused right-wing groups like the RSS of systematically trying to dismantle it. According to him, these groups are engaging in “modern fascism” — manipulating legal and democratic frameworks to undermine constitutional principles.
“The RSS and its affiliates aim to replace India’s pluralism with a majoritarian ideology,” he said. “They are misusing democracy to implement undemocratic changes, such as scrapping Article 370 under the guise of constitutional legitimacy. This is fascism in a new form.”
He called for unity among secular forces, including alliances with parties like the Congress, despite ideological differences, to collectively oppose what he referred to as “Sanatan forces.” He even described these forces as engaging in “ideological terrorism,” asserting that their long-term goal is to replace the Constitution with a theocratic, majoritarian state.
What Thirumavalavan said in his speech was deeply shocking — he appeared to casually legitimize terrorism by framing it as “counter-terrorism” against the government. This was the most controversial and alarming part of his address. Thirumavalavan stated, “Comrade mentioned one thing in his speech, ‘civil war.’ Terrorism, in fact, originates from the state itself. The struggles led by Maoists or the armed attacks by others are merely reactions. This is ‘counter-terrorism’. Terrorism, generally and by nature, originates from those in power. State terrorism is the original (form of terrorism). Whether it is Hamas or the Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan — they are not ruling powers. They are reacting against state terrorism. In places like Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Telangana, those comrades hiding in the forests — the Maoists — take up arms to protect mineral resources, to protect land rights, to protect tribal people, and to stop caste atrocities. They stand armed in the field alongside those people. This is a reaction. This is a counter-reaction. But today, these people are also labeled as terrorists by them, and helicopters are used to drop bombs and massacre innocent civilians and tribals in the name of Maoists. How can this be stopped?”
Thirumavalavan’s controversial remarks, which appeared to legitimize brutal acts of terrorism that target innocent civilians by whitewashing them as ‘counter-terrorism’ against the government, have drawn widespread and severe criticism.
This isn’t the first instance where Thirumavalavan and his party, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), have shown a tendency to glorify individuals and groups widely recognized as terrorists by portraying them as “freedom fighters.”
Following the Pahalgam Massacre of Innocent Hindu Tourists in Kashmir
Following the brutal massacre of 26 tourists—25 of them Hindus—in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Thirumavalavan issued a formal statement condemning the violence. While he expressed strong disapproval of the killings, but also used the tragic moment to push a political narrative, shifting focus toward the BJP-led central government’s policies.
In his two-page statement, Thirumavalavan refrained from naming Pakistan or The Resistance Front (TRF), the terror outfit linked to the attack and widely believed to be a proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Instead, he blamed the revocation of Article 370 and the alleged withdrawal of 180,000 troops during the COVID-19 period as contributing factors to the security lapse. He also demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
காஷ்மீரில் பயங்கரவாதத் தாக்குதல் – படுகொலை :
————————
உள்துறை அமைச்சர் அமித்ஷா அவர்கள் பதவி விலக வேண்டும்!விடுதலைச் சிறுத்தைகள் கட்சி அறிக்கை!
————————#காஷ்மீர் பஹல்காம் பகுதியில் தீவிரவாதிகள் நடத்திய தாக்குதலில் சுற்றுலாப் பயணிகள் 26 பேர்… pic.twitter.com/gjSQnAHWbZ— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) April 23, 2025
In his two page statement, there was not a single mention of Pakistan or the terror outfit The Resistance Front (an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba).
Netizens quickly highlighted past instances where VCK members, including MLA Aloor Shanavas, had referred to Kashmiri militants as “freedom fighters.“ A video resurfaced in which Shanavas praised Thirumavalavan for acknowledging the Kashmir conflict as a struggle for freedom rather than terrorism.
Following the brutal assault on Hindu tourists in the Pahalgam region of Jammu and Kashmir, Thirumavalavan issued a formal statement via his official account, saying, “I strongly condemn the horrific terrorist attack on innocent tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. Such acts of terror have no place in a democratic and civilized society. The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be identified, brought to justice, and punished with the utmost severity. I urge the Union Government to convene an all-party meeting to demonstrate that the entire nation stands united in rejecting terrorism and upholding peace and democracy.”
I strongly condemn the horrific terrorist attack on innocent tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. Such acts of terror have no place in a democratic and civilized society. The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be identified, brought to justice, and punished with the utmost…
— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) April 22, 2025
Glorifying S.A. Basha – Mastermind Of The 1998 Coimbatore Blasts
Following the death of S.A. Basha, founder of the banned terror outfit Al-Ummah and the chief conspirator behind the 1998 Coimbatore bomb blasts that killed 58 and injured over 230 people, several Dravidian parties, including VCK, offered tributes that were seen as blatant appeasement of extremist elements.
Thirumavalavan took to social media to pay tribute, portraying Basha as a martyr for the Muslim community. He wrote that Basha, who had spent over 25 years in prison, remained steadfast in his beliefs and that his death was a significant loss for Muslims. He further stated that party leaders, including Deputy General Secretary Vanni Arasu, attended Basha’s funeral to offer their respects, calling it a “heroic tribute.”
He wrote, “Kovai Basha has lost his life after being in prison for more than a quarter of a century. Not only him, but also some of his relatives including his son Siddique were imprisoned and lost their lives. Even when his family was imprisoned to protect the interests of Muslims, he did not lose heart and lived with determination without wavering in his principles. It is sad that he died as a prisoner. However, it has become a history. His demise is a great loss for Muslims. Many leading comrades including Deputy General Secretary Vanni Arasu participated in his last rites on behalf of the party and paid him a heroic tribute. Salute to Kovai_Pasha.”
கால் நூற்றாண்டுக்கும் மேலாக சிறையில் தனது வாழ்வைப் பறிகொடுத்தவர் கோவை பாஷா அவர்கள். அவர் மட்டுமின்றி அவரது மகன் சித்திக் உள்ளிட்ட உறவினர்கள் சிலரும் சிறைப்படுத்தப்பட்டு வாழ்வை இழந்தனர். இசுலாமியர்களின் நலன்களைப் பாதுகாப்பதற்காக தனது குடும்பமே சிறைப்படுத்தப்பட்ட நிலையிலும் அவர்… pic.twitter.com/IuNNjuuksu
— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) December 18, 2024
Consistent Pattern of Supporting Extremist Groups
Thirumavalavan’s controversial comments aren’t new. He has previously drawn parallels between globally designated terrorist organizations—like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis—and movements for self-determination, portraying them as justified resistance forces. He has even defended the LTTE, a banned terrorist outfit, suggesting they resorted to arms only after democratic processes failed them.
In an October 2024 speech, Thirumavalavan argued that militant groups in Palestine emerged in response to Israeli aggression, comparing them to the LTTE’s evolution in Sri Lanka. He claimed Palestinians, having lost the majority of their land to Israel, had no choice but to form groups like the PLO and later, Hamas, in self-defense.
Thirumavalavan said, “Generally they will say it as a terrorist organization, militant organization, then why was LTTE formed? Even after 25 years of struggle under the leadership of Selva in democratic way, the Sinhalese did not accept their demand. As there was need to speak in their language, armed groups appeared. Then what will the neighboring Islamic countries do without helping them? It will help them.”
He stated that initially, Palestinians ceded 40-45% of their land, but now Israel has taken over 90%, leaving only a small portion in the West Bank and Gaza. He then posed a question to the audience, “Now tell me, on whose side should we stand? Can you support Israel or the Jewish group that have driven out the Palestinians and occupied their land?”
He went as far as to draw a controversial comparison between the displacement of Dalits in Chennai and the plight of Palestinians. Referring to the Marwari business community in Sowcarpet, Chennai, Thirumavalavan likened their economic expansion to Israeli settlement, implying that the original residents of Chennai were being pushed out like Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
“What did the Jews do? They (Palestinians) gave them a piece of land and asked to stay within that. If we ask him (Marwaris) to stay within Sowcarpet, he should stay there. What will happen if they expand to other areas like Anna Nagar and encroach entire Chennai? The Dalits, poor and the marginalized, those who stay on the banks of Cooum River are being shifted to Ottiyambakkam, Thoraipakkam, Semmenchery. This is called displacement. The natives of Chennai were shifted away to 40-50 kms saying that you’re being affected because of rains and floods. This is being done by the government itself. What happened there (Israel) was, as he (Jews) came, these people (Palestinians) had to flee. They attacked. Thousands of them were killed.“, he said.
பாலஸ்தீனம், லெபனான், சிரியா ஆகிய நாடுகளில் இனப்படுகொலை செய்யும் இஸ்ரேல் அரசின் பயங்கரவாதத்தை கண்டித்து விடுதலைச் சிறுத்தைகள் கட்சியின் சார்பில் தற்போது சென்னை வள்ளுவர் கோட்டத்தில் நடைபெற்ற ஆப்பாட்டத்தில் ஆற்றிய கண்டன உரை… pic.twitter.com/glH25XzAfZ
— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) October 14, 2024
Public Endorsement of Pro-Palestinian Protests
On multiple occasions, including on 31 October 2023, Thirumavalavan has participated in large-scale demonstrations supporting Palestine, aligning himself with various Muslim political organizations. These events often included inflammatory rhetoric against Israel and vocal support for groups like Hamas. He criticized India’s neutral stance at the UN and urged the global community to condemn Israeli actions.
Thirumavalavan spoke in an inflammatory fashion and supported Hamas in this war. Here is a transcript of his speech. “Israel is carrying out a brutal war of aggression. Israel must stop this war. The nations across the world, democratic countries are voicing their support for Israel to stop this brutality against the Palestinians.”
Resolution Against India Abstaining From Voting Against Israel
He said, “Recently at the UN Assembly, Jordan proposed a resolution, and 120 nations voted in favour of it. 14 nations voted against it. 45 countries including India abstained from voting. Even if we count the countries that abstained and those who voted against the resolution, it is only 60 countries. But those who supported the resolution make up 120 countries. The world makes us realise the truth. That the war carried out by Israel on Palestine and the Gaza Strip is unjust, cruel, and terrible and this war needs to stop immediately. This is the voice of the world, the voice of all the democratic nations of the world. As a means to support that voice, today we have congregated here in the thousands.” He added, “When asked why we abstained from voting, they said that in the Jordan Resolution, there is no mention of Hamas, they have not spoken about the attack they carried out. So we abstained, said Yojana Patel, the Indian representative.”
Called Israel An Occupier Nation
He called Israel an occupier nation and said, “Israel has occupied Palestine, that is the historical truth. They were chased out of Germany and several other European countries. They entered Palestine with banners saying Germans stabbed us, don’t destroy our hope. The same people are the ones who created Israel and terrorising and suppressing people, they are the Jews.“
He added, “Keeping aside the history of why they were chased out of Germany, the Jewish race is one which has only developed enmity with most of the countries in the world. Israel is not their ancestral land. Israel is not their motherland. With the help of superpowers like America, they occupied territory and created a country of their own and are killing and bringing about the genocide of the same Palestinians who gave them refuge.”
Comparing The Eelam War With That Of Palestine
Thirumavalavan compared the Srilankan Tamil issue with that of the Palestinians. He said, “Even in Eelam, the Singhalese are not the natives of that land. They went from India. But history has been hidden from all. They caused the genocide and massacre of the natives of that land, the Tamils. It continues to this day. The same thing has happened here (Palestine).”
He added, “In 2001, I attended a conference in Durban in South Africa. It was about opposing apartheid. Several Palestinians came there with banners. Even though I do not understand their language, I would stand with the Palestinians during their protests. I came across a flyer that was in English. They constantly spoke for freeing their land and requested the countries of the world to support them. Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Movement would conduct exile Parliament and stress on these requests, same like how Eelam Tamils are having one.”
Hamas – A “Defence Force”
He called Hamas a defence force. He said, “We know that Hamas emerged as a contradictory movement of the Palestinian Liberation Movement. But that movement is the only one that protects the Palestinians. It is not a war-frenzy movement. It is not an occupier-frenzy movement. It is not a movement that hates other races. It did not start an attack on Israel unjustly. Hamas is a defence force that is there to protect Palestinians and Palestine’s land. It is being called a terrorist organisation and extremist organisation by the Sanathana forces in the United Nations Assembly.”
Justifying The Creation Of Hamas
Thirumavalavan also justified the reason for the creation of Hamas. He said, “What is the reason for the emergence of Hamas? Which country has been aggressed against/occupied by Hamas? On 7 October 2023, they carried out rocket strikes. It is not a war of aggression. It is a war against aggression. Shouldn’t India realize this? Shouldn’t America realise this? Is the attack carried out by Hamas a terror attack? or is the attack carried out by Israel a terror attack? Did the Palestinians occupy the Jewish nation or did the Jews occupy the Palestinian nation? Shouldn’t we know the answer to this question? It is a fact that the world knows. It is a historical fact that the Jews occupied the Palestinian nation.”
He also added, “Israel is an occupier nation created by the Jews with the support of America. Who is carrying out the terror attack here? Weren’t the Palestinians the ones who helped them when they came to Palestine raising their banners? Who is carrying out such a terrible attack with cluster bombs and phosphorus against the Palestinians who welcomed them? We are not gathered here on the basis of religion. We are united asking for justice. We are here to question the conscience of the countries of the world. Whenever there is a war between Israel and Palestine, America always comes forward to support Israel blindly.”
Condemning India’s Stand On The War
He called India’s stand on the war something that was influenced by “Sanathana forces”. He said, “Today, our Indian nation has become a subordinate of America and has come forward to support Israel blindly. They support America’s stand. Indian politics is based on justice but it is supporting injustice. It is supporting Jews who are an occupier nation. It is against the Palestinians who are the sons of the soil (natives). The BJP government is looking at the Palestinians as Muslims alone. It is not looking at the justice on their side. We want to accuse the BJP, RSS’s Muslim hatred politics has made us take a stand against the Palestinians. They are not looking at this problem, this problem between Hamas and Israel as a fight between occupiers and natives. Should the Palestinian people come back to Palestine or not? Should they not condemn the actions of Israel which is preventing Palestinians from returning?”
Gaza – Comparison With Chennai
Thirumavalavan compared Gaza to Chennai and complained about how Israel was torturing the citizens. He said, “Gaza which is under the control of Hamas is a small strip of land that is 10km wide and 41km long. 25 lakh people are living in a place which is not even a fifth of Chennai’s land area. More than 1 crore people live in Chennai. For the past 25 days, Israel has been carrying out brutal attacks via air and land. Countries like America and India are watching the spectacle. Where will this lead to? Even if these people think, let the people of Palestine find a solution to the problem, even then the Palestinians will win. If America does not intervene, if their supporters do not intervene, if their army doesn’t go, if they do not help with their weapons, if they do not help financially, Hamas will win and take over Israel.”
He also added, “In the name of destroying LTTE, India, and America supported the Sinhalese and took a stand against the Tamils. In the same way, they named Hamas a terrorist organisation, and in the name of destroying Hamas, they are killing innocent Palestinians. Dead bodies are being transported in containers. They are burying dead bodies en masse. Reports indicate that 50000 pregnant women are unsafe and in dangerous conditions. They cut off the electricity, oil, and water. This is not just a war against terrorism, it is a genocide.”
He called for a gathering, a show of support similar to the gathering of numerous people in Kerala to express support for Palestine. He said even in Tamil Nadu, millions of people stand in opposition to Israel’s brutal war, and that this conflict needed to be halted promptly. He condemned India’s stance and that it must be altered, and efforts will be made to exert pressure on India to raise its voice against the continuation of the war.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
The Aftermath Of Operation Sindoor: India Redraws The Rules Of Retaliation
India has effectively been able to fulfil its objectives by Operation Sindoor in more than one ways. First of all, India has clearly communicated that any forthcoming sub-conventional attacks (that involves non state actors & terror groups) will be met with a conventional response (militarily). It emphasizes that now Pakistan has a duty to avert any sub-conventional assaults if it seeks to avoid conventional retaliation from India. So effectively, India has blurred the line between the non-state actors and the Pakistani establishment by holding the latter responsible for the acts of formal and even being complicit.
Also, while Pakistan has consistently tried to internationalise the Kashmir issue, India has maintained that Kashmir is a bilateral dispute. American mediation and President Trump mentioning the K word (Kashmir) in his social media posts suggests that Pakistan has been successful in weaving the narrative, but one must remember that the ceasefire agreement between the two countries does not address India’s choice to suspend the IWT. Pakistan used to get a lion’s share of water from the IWT (more than 80%), it needs water for its agriculture and other purposes. India on the other hand, targets Pakistan sponsored terrorism. As a result, the new framework for bilateral discussions will require India to demand that Pakistan halt its terrorist activities as a condition for the reinstatement of the IWT, rather than India agreeing to engage in discussions about Kashmir in exchange for Pakistan’s promise to combat terrorism. So the stakes for Pakistan have been remarkably raised.
Earlier, Indian attempts to thwart terrorist attacks sponsored by Pakistan have not yielded the desired results. India tried to create strong defences to prevent the success of terror operations backed by Pakistan, but defence alone can’t guarantee complete security. It’s like expecting to win a football match with strong defenders & not formidable strikers – the ones who score the goal. Effective deterrence requires scoring goals, which involves retaliating against Pakistan in response to terrorist acts. Also, solely depending on military responses is insufficient to significantly change Pakistan’s behaviour. India is aiming to create a framework of disincentives that makes Pakistan recognize that the advantages it derives from sub-conventional actions are greatly outweighed by the increased costs it incurs as a result of these actions. IWT would be an effective tool for India to establish this.
Operation Sindoor has further amplified India’s unwavering dedication to decisively combat terrorism, without caring about the consequences. Although Modi Government has expressed this determination for some time but through Operation Sindoor it has now established a new normal and changed the rules for engagement that any act of terror would be retaliated militarily & publically. This is in contrast to the covert operations of 2016 that were acknowledged after the operations. Now India has established a well-publicized deterrent framework that increases the stakes for Pakistan from breaching the boundaries. The visual order of this newly established framework would continue to haunt Pakistan for years to come. India’s objective is not only to carry out punitive actions but also to be seen as doing so.
Another ramification of Operation Sindoor would be seen on India’s ties with one of its strategic partners – the USA. The relationship between Trump administration & Modi administration have been very good but American attempts to end the Indo-Pak confrontation and his post on social media which mention ‘increasing trade with both these great nations’ has a patronising undertone. For years, global leaders have exercised caution against planning their visits to India at the same time as those to Pakistan. The United States has just tried to establish a misleading equivalence between the victim and the offender & while doing so it also attempts to reshape the understanding of the hyphenation between India and Pakistan in a global context.
Trump indicated that he threatened to suspend trade in order to impose a ‘ceasefire’ between India and Pakistan. Well, it’s a fact that the possibility of rolling back the tariffs does give US leverage over its allies and adversaries alike. Leading scholar of IR, Prof. John Mearsheimer didn’t rule out that Trump might have promised a ‘sweetheart deal to India’ if it ends the confrontation. But playing hard ball with India could backfire, particularly in defence procurement and the level of support India might provide to the US in a possible conflict with China! PM Modi is known to have a long memory. President Trump is opting to exacerbate India-US relations with inept diplomatic efforts, it is crucial for the White House to adopt a realistic approach. US needs India in Indo-Pacific to check a belligerent China but it seems that US also needs Pakistan to ensure that India doesn’t become a second China. India-US ties could be best described as ‘friends with benefits’.
Overall, the most significant message Operation Sindoor coveys is that India would respond disproportionately in case of any terror attack & not only it would respond but respond in a way that hits the heart of the well-oiled terror machinery nurtured by Pakistan as their State policy. In his address to the nation on may 12th, PM Modi clearly enunciated a new Indian doctrine related to the link between terrorism and nuclear option. No Indian PM has talked in such unmitigated & uncompromising way. Never before in history a nuclear power State has been hit at twelve of it’s military bases with such impunity, the nuclear blackmail is no longer feasible for Pakistan which it has often tried to use as a leverage against India. India’s response to the terror attack in Pahalgam would remain a profound moment of Indian security and strategic doctrine.
Kanishk Shekhar is a columnist, he also teaches students preparing for Civil Services Exam conducted by the UPSC.