‘CM is anti-Hindu’

The National Mahila Morcha president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Coimbatore South MLA, Vanathi Srinivasan, has stirred controversy by accusing Chief Minister M.K. Stalin of being “anti-Hindu” for not extending wishes for the Hindu festival of Deepavali. In a statement released on Saturday, November 11, 2023, Srinivasan asserted that while no one expected wishes from Stalin as the president of the DMK, it was his responsibility as the Chief Minister to treat people of all faiths equally. She contended that Chief Ministers from the DMK had never extended greetings for Hindu festivals alone, emphasizing the need for impartiality in the Chief Minister’s role. She labeled Stalin’s apparent omission of Deepavali wishes as an “anti-Hindu” stance, sparking a debate on the intersection of religion and politics in the state. She highlighted the festival’s importance, claiming that its enthusiastic celebration in the state surpassed that of others. She noted the festival’s contributions to the state’s development, citing the economic boost from businesses related to firecrackers and textiles during the festive season.