A massive gathering of nearly five lakh devotees marked the culmination of the Murugan Devotees’ Conference, organized by the Hindu Munnani, at Amma Thidal near the Madurai Pandi Temple. The event featured cultural performances, devotional recitations, and speeches by prominent political leaders. Replicas of the six sacred abodes of Lord Murugan – the Arupadaiveedu attracted visitors in the days leading up to the conference.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan attended the conference as a special guest, while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath canceled his scheduled participation due to unavoidable reasons. Senior BJP leaders including Tamil Nadu State President Nainar Nagendran, former party president K. Annamalai, and Tamilisai Soundararajan were present, along with AIADMK leaders R.P. Udayakumar, Sellur Raju, and Kadambur Raju.
Annamalai’s Remarks
Speaking at the conference, former BJP state president K Annamalai characterized the Murugan gathering as more than a religious event — framing it as a cultural assertion. He compared India’s recent military operation, Operation Sindoor, to global actions taken by other nations to defend their cultural identity. He suggested that criticism of such operations stemmed from discomfort with India’s assertion of its own values.
He argued that the Pahalgam attack, which had targeted Hindu pilgrims, exemplified threats to the Hindu way of life and that India was now responding firmly. Annamalai claimed that such threats had persisted over time, and he accused political actors of exploiting religious divisions, assuming Hindus would remain disunited.
Annamalai emphasized the importance of Hindu unity, particularly among the youth. He urged that Hindu children be raised with confidence in their identity, wearing symbols like Rudraksha beads and wearing the sacred vibhuti without hesitation.
Taking a dig at VCK chief Thirumavalavan who recently was seen rubbing off the vibhuti from his forehead after his visit to a temple, Annamalai said, “Such conferences will continue to be conducted. Whenever a problem arises, we will unite and fight it. But more than that, it is important to be aware of why we are uniting. We must be courageous to wear our religious symbols and markings; there is a necessity to do that now. We are not anyone’s enemy. Even though we are a majority in only two countries, we are not anyone’s enemies. Show that (you are a Hindu) bravely. Recently, an MP, a politician was at Thirupparankundram temple. He is the leader of an important party. He can be seen coming out of the temple after having darshan of the deity, just a few days back. A lady requests him to take a selfie with her. He rubs off the vibhuti from his forehead and takes the picture. The same people will come begging for votes to us for the 2026 elections. Even that day, he will go to the temple. He will even speak about us. Hindus must realise this – that we are no one’s enemy and we must have the clarity that those who we do not consider as enemies consider us as their enemies.”
"செல்ஃபி கேட்டால் திருநீறை அழிக்கிறார் ஒரு அரசியல் தலைவர் "- தமிழக பாஜக முன்னாள் தலைவர் அண்ணாமலை#முருக_பக்தர்கள்_மாநாடு | #Madurai | #MuruganMaanadu | #Annamalai | #HinduMunnani pic.twitter.com/bBktS3oGXK
— PuthiyathalaimuraiTV (@PTTVOnlineNews) June 22, 2025
Thirumavalavan’s act of rubbing off the sacred ash drew criticism from various quarters, with many accusing Thirumavalavan of attempting to distance himself from Hindu symbolism for political or ideological gain but while during the same visit to Thirupparankundram, he proceeded to the nearby Sikkandar Hill dargah, where members of the Muslim community warmly received him and placed a skullcap on his head – an act he accepted with a smile.
Critics labelled this as an example of selective secularism and hypocrisy, arguing that true secularism means either staying equidistant from all religions or treating them equally. Appeasing one religious group while dismissing or disrespecting another, they say, amounts to political opportunism that risks alienating the sentiments of the Hindu community.
"இதற்கு பெயர் தான் மதச்சார்பின்மையா"???🚨
இன்று மதுரை திருப்பரங்குன்றம் சென்றிருந்த திருமாவளவன்,
🔻"முருகன் கோவிலில் கொடுத்த திருநீறை அழிக்கிறார்".
🔻"சிக்கந்தர் பள்ளிவாசலில் தொப்பியை போட்டுக் கொள்கிறார்". pic.twitter.com/hUFgLuUUUo
— MR.Anil (@Saffron_Anil_) June 19, 2025
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