Faith matters: Tamil Nadu Murugan conference calls for ‘Hindu unity’; Andhra Pradesh dy CM Pawan Kalyan slams ‘fake’ secularists & atheists

MADURAI: Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan attacked 'fake secularists' and atheists for 'targeting Hinduism' at Lord Murugan devotees conference in Madurai on Sunday.Addressing the gathering of devotees, Hindu pontiffs, BJP leaders and members of Hindu outfits, he said secularism had become a convenient word for a lot of people, "especially for atheists who don't believe in god".Pawan Kalyan was clad in a green veshti, work by Murugan devotees, and spoke in Tamil. "Secularism means no discrimination against any religion. But for them, secularism means no discrimination against any religion except Hinduism," he said."For atheists, it has become a habit to denigrate our gods. If this does not change it would become difficult to sustain Hindu dharma. I am not a fanatic, but I am a committed Hindu. I respect Christianity and Islam. But there should not be disrespect for Hindu dharma," he said.He called Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar, an icon of thevars, an influential vote bank in south Tamil Nadu an incarnation of Lord Murugan, the 'world's first revolutionary leader'.

Hindu Munnani and BJP leaders presented Pawan Kalyan a vel (spear). He had visited Thiruparankundram temple before the conference.The conference called for a 'Hindu unity' and protection of Hindu rights and temples. A resolution passed at the conference called upon the people to demonstrate the strength of the Hindu vote bank in upcoming assembly election in Tamil Nadu. Another resolution demanded that DMK stop "treating temples as revenue sources".BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran said Hindu Munnani has turned all the stones thrown at the conference into stepping stones and has conducted this conference. Hindu Munnani chief Kadeswara Subramaniam slammed state HR&CE minister P K Sekar Babu for posing hurdles to the conference.Former BJP state president K Annamalai said, "The success of the conference shows that people have chosen 'Swami' over 'Nidhi' in this state," he said, a remark seen as a reference to AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin.

Since the high court had directed that there should not be political speeches, all the speakers skipped political content.Though BJP's ally AIADMK chose not to speak about the Murugan conference, four former ministers from the party R B Udhayakumar, Sellur K Raju, Rajendhira Balaji and Kadambur Raju participated in the event. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami had wished the conference success. Union minister of state L Murugan, BJP leaders H Raja, Tamilisai Soundararajan, Vanathi Srinivasan were also present.A separate stage was allocated for AIADMK leaders, while BJP senior leaders, various Adheenams, and Pawan Kalyan were seated on the main stage which was decorated with the six abodes of Lord Murugan. After Pawan Kalyan's speech, devotees sang 'Kandha Sashti Kavasam'. Hindu Munnani claimed it a record, saying it was the first time more than one lakh people had sung it together at a venue.The Lord Murugan devotees conference held in Madurai on Sunday called for 'Hindu unity' and protection of Hindu rights and temples.

A resolution passed at the conference called upon the people to demonstrate the strength of the Hindu vote bank in the assembly election in Tamil Nadu next year. Another resolution demanded that the DMK govt 'stop treating temples as revenue sources and use funds to benefit devotees'.The conference held amid criticism from DMK, Congress, VCK and NTK also flayed 'fake secularists' and atheists. "Do these so-called secularists have the guts to speak about other religions," asked Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan.AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami had deputed four of his former ministers to attend the event. DMK and its allies said BJP was holding the event to gain political mileage using religion. TNN