“Long live Periyar”: DMK MP Jagathrakshakan wearing sacred thread photo goes viral, raises several questions

A photo of DMK MP Jagathrakshakan has gone viral on the internet in which he can be seen clad in a dhoti with thiruman on his forehead, wearing the poonool (sacred thread).

The DMK is a party that is known for its anti-Brahmin and anti-Hindu politics. The Dravidian party and its fringe outfits like Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam (TDPK) are known conducting thread ceremony for pigs on Avani Avittam day.

In one of the pictures, M. Karunanidhi can be seen holding the sacred thread of a child dressed as Thiruvalluvar in a mocking way along with his son MK Stalin.

However, this photo of the DMK MP wearing sacred thread has stirred up a controversy with several  wondering whether another horse is about to run from the DMK’s stables.

This has also hit the image of the party that claims to stand by the ideals of “Periyar”.

Ever since the ‘Karuppar Koottam’ episode where the rabid Youtube channel had made derogatory remarks on Hindu God Murugan and Kandha Sashti Kavasam, the DMK has come to be seen as a party that is against the Hindus that wantonly hurts Hindu sentiments in an unsolicited way while appeasing the minorities.

Investigations done by the Tamil Nadu police revealed the links the between Karuppar Koottam and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Pictures surfaced established the close relationship shared by Karuppar Koottam and the DMK. In fact, it has led to questions if whether the DMK IT wing is behind the channel itself.

Realizing that popular sentiments were turning against them, the DMK has been trying to shed its anti-Hindu image to woo Hindu voters.

Earlier on July 18, during a press meet, DMK Rajya Sabha MP RS Bharathi distanced himself from the Karuppar Koottam saying that the DMK is no way linked to the rabid Youtube channel. He added that a false campaign was being done and also condemned denigration of Lord Murugan. He went on to recall Anna’s slogan of “Ondre Kulam Oruvane Devan” (One Community, One God).

The DMK chief MK Stalin also had put out a tweet condemning the incident where an Amman temple and Ganesha temple were vandalized in Coimbatore.

Added to this, the DMK IT Wing also released a video flaunting its Hindutva credentials saying that the party is more Hindu than one could ever imagine and that it has done more for the Hindus than any Hindutva party.

Also, the DMK leadership has been facing a severe credibility crisis as senior leaders have switched to the BJP. V.P Duraiswamy who was a Deputy General Secretary in the DMK joined the BJP and is now the Vice President of the party’s Tamil Nadu unit. Sitting DMK MLA of Thousand Lights KK Selvam is on the verge of joining the BJP with the MLA having met the BJP National President JP Nadda a few days back. He has also been quite active on Twitter questioning Stalin’s stance on various issues.

In light of this, there were rumours that that DMK MP Jagathrakshakan was next in line to defect. However, he has defied it. “I am neither dissatisfied, nor did I meet the Prime Minister”, said DMK MP Jagatharakshakan and added that it is not possible to keep responding to such rumours circulating in social media.

But DMK MP Jagathrakshakan’s photo has not only thrown open several questions but also the party’s double standards.