News Brief
Hypocrisy? Tamil Nadu Minister Calls Murugan Conference 'Sanghi', MDMK Leader Vaiko Urges 'Stop Playing Politics With Gods’
Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Sekar Babu with CM M K Stalin
The 2025 Murugan Conference in Madurai, initially envisioned as a major religious and cultural gathering, has rapidly become a focal point for political debate in Tamil Nadu.
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko publicly condemned political parties for organising events in the name of gods, warning that such practices threaten secularism and social harmony.
Citing the Madurai Murugan conference, Vaiko stated, “Using the name of any god for a party conference is inappropriate, irrespective of which deity it is,” as quoted by a report in The Hindu. He cautioned that leveraging religious sentiment for political gain undermines the state’s tradition of rationalism and inclusivity, and called for a clear separation between politics and religion.
Vaiko’s criticism extended to both major Dravidian parties, urging them to avoid using faith as a tool for electoral advantage. Echoing Vaiko’s concerns, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Sekar Babu, described the 2025 Madurai Murugan conference as a “pure Sanghi and political conference.”
He accused the BJP and its affiliates of orchestrating the event to create religious and linguistic divisions, rather than fostering true devotion. He questioned the presence of political leaders from outside Tamil Nadu, such as Yogi Adityanath and Pawan Kalyan.
Sekar Babu asserted, “Temples are to propagate justice and discipline. But the conference by these people is aiming to create divisions based on race, language and religion.” He contrasted this with the DMK’s own 2024 Murugan conference, which he described as inclusive, apolitical, and attended by devotees from 27 countries.
The political context
The DMK’s 2024 Murugan conference was officially promoted as a global religious and cultural celebration, aiming to unite Murugan devotees and highlight Tamil heritage. However, political observers widely interpreted the event as a strategic move by the DMK to appeal to Hindu voters and counter the BJP’s growing influence in Tamil Nadu.
The event was seen as part of the party’s broader efforts to balance its Dravidian, rationalist roots with the need to engage religious communities ahead of crucial state elections.
The escalating row over the Murugan conferences underscores the complex interplay between religion and politics in Tamil Nadu. As parties trade accusations of politicising faith, the state’s voters are left to navigate a landscape where cultural identity, religious devotion, and political strategy are increasingly intertwined.
