'Once you wear DMK dhoti, remove tilak': Tamil Nadu MP A Raja stokes row with 'Sanghi' remark

COIMBATORE: DMK MP A Raja has sparked a row with his comments urging DMK cadres to shun Hindu religious symbols when they wear party dhoti.

"Those who want God, let them have their beliefs. I am not asking anyone not to worship. We are not against God. But when you also sport tilak and (holy) wrist bands which are worn by Sanghis (rightwing members), it becomes difficult to differentiate the two," he said at the public meeting organised in the hill district Nilgiris on Sunday.

The video has gone viral sparking angry reactions from BJP leaders. The DMK too distanced itself from Raja's comments stating it was his personal view and not that of the party leadership.

"You offer prayers. If your parents apply 'vibuthi' (holy ash) on your foreheads, have it. But once you wear the 'karai veshti' (dhoti with a border featuring colours of DMK flag), remove the tilak," he said. At least the student wing of the DMK should follow this, Raja said. He said ideology was paramount for a party. "An example of deterioration of a party without ideology is AIADMK,'' he added.

When reporters questioned Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) minister P K Sekarbabu about Raja's statement, he said that it was not the party's view. "It must be his personal view. Our leader (chief minister M K Stalin) has not said so," he said.

Nevertheless, Raja's statement has sparked angry remarks from BJP leaders. "Will DMK leaders like Raja have the courage to ask Muslims and Christians also to remove their religious symbols," asked senior BJP leader H Raja. "DMK is a poisonous element," he said.

BJP spokesman A N S Prasad said Raja's remarks attempt to deliberately create a rift between communities."By asserting that wearing a sacred mark (pottu) and carrying a rosary (kayiru) are characteristics of 'sanghis', Raja has made a blatant attempt to misrepresent Hindu traditions and practices," he said.