CHENNAI: BJP state vice-president Kushboo Sundar on Friday accused VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan of selectively targeting Hindu religious practices while remaining silent on celebrations of minority festivals.
“Thirumavalavan questions whether lighting a lamp at Tiruparankundram would bring the AIIMS hospital to Madurai. Would he ask the same question if Christmas or Ramzan is celebrated?” Kushboo asked, alleging that repeated attacks on Hindu traditions stem from the belief that the majority community can be taken for granted. “How long will the majority Hindu population be targeted in this manner?” she said while speaking to reporters after participating in the 21st Tsunami remembrance day observance at Srinivasapuram beach in Pattinapakkam here.
Reacting to Thirumavalavan’s remarks describing actors-turned-politicians Vijay and Seeman as ‘children of the BJP’, Kushboo countered, “Then whose child is Thirumavalavan, the DMK’s or the Congress’s?”
She further questioned why Thirumavalavan visits temples during election time if he opposes religious expressions in public life. “If he truly believes religion should be kept out of politics, I request him not to visit any temple, church or mosque during this election,” she said, adding that the BJP had no role in the lighting of the lamp at Tiruparankundram, which was done following a court order.
Responding to former Union Minister P Chidambaram’s criticism over renaming schemes, Kushboo said Congress governments had routinely named schemes after their leaders. “Is there any central scheme named after Modi?” she asked, urging Congress leaders to speak responsibly, particularly on issues like electronic voting machines, where contradictory statements have emerged from within the party.
Kushboo further dismissed reports claiming the BJP would be allotted 23 seats in an AIADMK-led front as mere rumours, and said BJP leaders and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami would make a formal announcement soon.
Asked whether she would contest the elections, Kushboo said she joined the BJP not with electoral ambitions but to work for the party’s growth, adding that she would abide by the leadership’s decision.