In yet another controversial speech, senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader, TR Baalu said that he had demolished three 100- year old temples dedicated to Goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati in his hometown.

He was speaking at a programme organised by Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), the ideological parent of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

He further said that he knew that by demolishing the temples he would lose votes, but still did because he knew what else could bring votes.

The remarks were made in the context of the Sethusamudram shipping canal project, which has been stalled due to opposition to alignment 4A and other alignments that cut the Ram Setu.

Later, in his speech, Baalu said that he had rebuilt the temples at a different location and this was an example of how religion should not come in the way of development.

Yesterday, in an audio clip that went viral, he was seen saying that he would chop off the hands of anyone who touched his 'leader.'

Reacting to the video, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Annamalai said that DMK men take pride in demolishing 100-year-old Hindu temples and that was the very reason for the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HRCE) department to be dissolved and temples freed from government control.

Also Read: ‘Chopping Off The Hand Of Anyone Who Touches My Leader Is My Dharma’, Says Senior DMK Leader TR Baalu