Pudhugai Boopalam, a political satire stand-up comedy group from Tamil Nadu, participated in the DMK Youth Wing conference in Salem. During their performance, they depicted an incident involving India’s Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, as she assessed flood damage in South Tamil Nadu, specifically in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi. However, their portrayal was offensive, particularly towards Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the Hindu community.
The incident that was portrayed is, when Nirmala Sitharaman paid a visit to the Vaikuntanathar Perumal Temple at Srivaikuntam where she inspected the chariot procession path that was ravaged by the floods. A video of her interacting and directing the officials inside the temple has gone viral on social media. During the Brahmotsavam, the procession of the deity would go through the path that is behind the temple. However, that path was being used like an open-air public toilet by a few people leading to unbearable stench.
When the finance minister was at the temple, a devotee had appealed to her to do something about getting the path cleaned. Nirmala Sitharaman immediately ordered the officials to take the matter into cognizance and do the needful. Nirmala Sitharaman said that BJP Tamil Nadu’s floor leader in the Assembly, Nainar Nagendran would come and inspect whether the job has been completed or not in 15 days or a month.
“If the job isn’t completed even after one month, I will come down here. Will it happen when I come? I will stand right there until the fencing is completed. No matter the work (I have). Alright? “, she can be heard telling the officials assembled at the temple.
She then makes snide remarks at the Joint Commissioner of Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) of Thoothukudi region asking him whether he listened to their grievances. The Joint Commissioner can be seen fumbling in front of the Minister. “Perumal during the procession is coming through that path. They are asking you to clean the path which is being used like a public toilet.”, Nirmala Sitharaman says. An official can be heard saying that the path would be guarded with proper fencing.
BJP MLA Nainar Nagendran asked how much it would cost to which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says “Why are you worried about that?” Taking jibes at the HR&CE department for not giving enough renumeration to the temple archakas, Nirmala Sitharaman says to the BJP MLA “For giving ₹3000 to these priests they (HR&CE) measure carefully like they do in ration shops. They would definitely have enough money remaining with them. They can’t pay them (archakas) salaries. Because there is a reason for that. They won’t have a problem in repairing the street/path.”
She further adds “If you ask like that, they would say they’ve no money and you would also arrange CSR funds. No way!” As she makes that comment, a devotee from the crowd can be heard saying that he can arrange ₹30,000 to which Nirmala Sitharaman replies “Wait brother! Don’t put it in the Hundi (donation box). You give wherever you want as you deem fit. Let them use the money they’ve to build it.” She then goes on to warn the HR&CE Joint Commissioner saying “Don’t take it lightly thinking that I am talking candidly in a joking manner. They’re not asking you anything else. They’re asking you to get the path through which Perumal comes cleaned and maintained.” to which the official assures that he will get it rectified.
However, the DMK supporting Dravidian Stockists have unleashed vile casteist abuses at Nirmala Sitharaman invoking her Brahmin identity. The so-called comedians who tried to enact this incident but crossed the boundaries of satire.
This is how the Finance Minister and Hindu temples were abused and ridiculed in the DMK youth conference and the DMK minister Udayanidhi Stalin was enjoying it… pic.twitter.com/KvmzUl7x3C
— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 (@HLKodo) January 23, 2024
The member of Pudhugai Boopalam Pragadeeshwaran says: “That lady who is the finance minister of ondriya government (union government). Very big post she is in. To that lady a loosu (madman) complaints saying the toilet is smelly”. you see that man who is complaining (in a ridiculing manner). If the matter said to AEO then it would be fine, or some worker who cleans. but conveying it to Nirmala Sitharaman who is finance minister. what that lady should tell? (she should have told) why are you saying this to me? is this a big problem? should I look into urine and faeces issue? she should have told like this. but she then told, you see the work of ondriya minister (union minister), without giving the funds, she is doing the work of cleaning toilets.
Senthi, his partner says: Even if we ask funds, she is telling to put in their plates (ridiculing way of meaning the Brahmins).
Pragadeeshwaran says: The money you have been getting in the plates has now brought to the hundi as the people’s asset by Dravidian organization. If you are getting in plates from people and using it for temple, then what is the use of that? Do you know why the government is controlling temples? There are many people like Devanathan of Kanchipuram. they will do that work. so only we (the state government) are having temples.
Amidst this incident, notable figures from the DMK, including DMK scion Udhayanidhi Stalin, DMK MP A. Raja, and former Minister Ponmudi, were present at the scene.
It is noteworthy to mention that recently when Puthiya Thalaimurai News Channel recently posted a spoof/satire video on DMK, it was made to issue an apology and take the video down.
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