Hinting at the recent Pa Ranjith’s assistant director Viduthalai Sigappi aka Vigneshwaran’s speech, former chief Minister and expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam on Wednesday (10 May 2023) insisted that strict action should be taken against those who insult Hindu Gods.
The former Chief Minister in a three-page statement on Twitter posted, “Ever since the DMK government came to power, the denigration of religion and religious gods has been going on in complete violation of the Indian constitution. All people living in India are given the right to freedom of religion. There is no restriction for people to worship. But defamation of any religion is not acceptable under the Constitution. No one has the right to insult a particular religion. If one speaks disparagingly or insulting a particular religion stating it is an opinion, the government has the duty and responsibility to take legal action against him.”
“During Amma’s regime, the situation was such that, no people from one particular religion were allowed to insult another person from different religion. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this became important for the State to remain in peace during Amma’s reign.”
சட்டம் ஒழுங்கை சீரழிக்கும் வகையில் இந்துக் கடவுள்களை இழிபடுத்துபவர்கள் மீது கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுத்திடுக! pic.twitter.com/pl9eXBqYqk
— O Panneerselvam (@OfficeOfOPS) May 10, 2023
“Last year in Chidambaram and Cuddalore, a video was circulated on YouTube with derogatory remarks against the world-famous Lord Thillai Nataraja. More than 2000 Sivanadiyar, a group of Shaivite monks protested against it. Condemning this, on behalf of the AIADMK, I issued a statement and urged the Hon’ble Chief Minister M K Stalin to take action against those who published such videos to create religious conflicts.”, he said.
Adding further, Panneersevalm said “Vigneshwaran alias Viduthalai Sigappi spoke in a programme insulting the epic Ramayana and the Hindu Gods like Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, and Hanuman, whom people worship. This is going viral on social media and is highly condemnable. This is completely against the principle of Arignar Anna. Various organisations have condemned his speech. A complaint has also been lodged with the city police. AIADMK will strongly oppose any such insulting speech to the people of any religion. Such activities tend to undermine Law and Order, religious harmony and create religious conflicts.”
The ousted AIADMK leader requested the CM to immediately intervene in this matter and take strict legal action against those who insulted Hindu Gods and ensure that such incidents do not happen in the near future.
On Tuesday, Chennai Police booked popular Tamil filmmaker Pa Ranjith’s assistant director Vigneshwaran alias Viduthalai Sigappi based on a complaint alleging that the assistant director insulted Hindu Gods, while reciting a poem at the Vaanam Arts Festival, organised by Pa Ranjith’s Neelam Cultural centre.
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