Tamil Nadu DMK Min Ponmudy makes derogatory remarks on Shaivism-Vaishnavism, Stalin removes him from party post

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin removed his cabinet minister K. Ponmudy from the party’s deputy general secretary post on Friday, after he triggered a row by making derogatory remarks against Shaivism and Vaishnavism.

In a statement, Stalin said DMK MP Tiruchi Siva has been appointed as the new deputy general secretary of the party. Stalin’s action comes amid protests from opposition demanding Ponmudy's resignation from ministerial post for his derogatory remarks against Shaivism and Vaishnavism, allegedly likening to sex work.

Ponmudy apparently made the distasteful remarks during a recent public event in Villupuram. A video of the minister making the purported remarks in the context of a sex worker has gone viral. The forest minister is yet to comment regarding his statements.

Stalin’s actions comes after Ponmudy’s comments drew widespread criticism, including from DMK MP Kanimozhi. The DMK leader tweeted, “Minister Ponmudy's recent speech is unacceptable. Regardless of the reason for the speech, such vulgar remarks are condemnable.”

Bharatiya Janata Party president K. Annamalai slammed the DMK and Ponmudy for the comments. “This is DMK’s standard of political discourse in Tamil Nadu. Thiru Ponmudi was once the Higher Education Minister of Tamil Nadu & now Minister for Forests and Khadi, and the youth of Tamil Nadu are expected to tolerate this filth? Not just this Minister, the entire DMK ecosystem is vulgar, foul-mouthed, and uncouth,” he tweeted.

Annamalai charged Stalin should feel “ashamed for leading such a disgraceful pack”. “By removing him from a party post today, if @arivalayam thinks people will move on, they are sadly mistaken! DMK’s relentless attacks on the pillars of Hindu Dharma (Saivam & Vainavam) won’t go unanswered forever,” he said.