If it's wrong, say so: Annamalai slams Vijay's silence on Thiruparankundram row

Former BJP Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai criticised actor-politician Vijay over his silence on the Thiruparankundram issue, alleging that Vijay was attempting to appease minorities and questioning his political consistency.

Referring to Vijay’s earlier remark about being vocal when required and silent otherwise, Annamalai asked whether such an approach worked in politics. “If something is wrong, say it is wrong. If it is right, say it is right. Pick one side instead of standing in the centre,” he said.

Questioning Vijay’s silence, Annamalai said people would find it difficult to trust a leader who did not react to key issues. “There are so many fights and issues here. If you still keep quiet, how will people trust you with governance?” he asked.

On the Thiruparankundram issue, Annamalai said public sentiment was clear. “Where are the people’s emotions lying? They want to light the lamp. What kind of politics is it to stay quiet?” he said.

Annamalai said Vijay was free to enter politics in Tamil Nadu, explain his ideology and let voters decide. However, he accused Vijay of choosing when to speak, pointing out that Vijay had spoken in Puducherry about an MLA in a BJP alliance government allegedly not being allotted a portfolio because he belonged to a minority community.

“Vijay spoke for the minority community there, but he did not speak for the majority in Thiruparankundram,” Annamalai said.

The Thiruparankundram row centres on a dispute over the lighting of the traditional Karthigai Deepam lamp at a stone pillar called Deepathoon on Thiruparankundram hill near Madurai, Tamil Nadu, after a Madras High Court order directed that devotees be allowed to perform the ritual at that spot, a decision the state government did not implement citing law and order concerns.

This led to protesters being blocked by police, clashes on the ground, and impeachment notices against the judge.

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