Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol. Thirumavalavan has found himself in the eye of the storm, with right-wing critics alleging that he had, in a speech, called for the demolition of Hindu temples on the 25th anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Insisting that he never advocated such a view, Mr. Thirumavalavan told The Hindu in an interview that his speech was deliberately being twisted with the aim of driving a wedge between the DMK and the VCK ahead of the Radhakrishnan Nagar bypoll. Excerpts:
What led you to make comments about demolishing temples?
I never said that we should demolish Hindu temples. Every year, we organise Dalits’ and Muslims’ ‘awakening day’ on December 6, which coincides with Dr. Ambekdar’s death anniversary. It is my view that the Babri Masjid was demolished on that day with ulterior motives, and I have been raising the issue since 1992. It was just for argument’s sake that I spoke about temples which had come up in the place where Buddhist and Jain shrines once stood. I had asked, “What if there is a demand to demolish them [temples] and construct Buddhist and Jain shrines [there] again.” There is historical evidence which suggests that Buddhist and Jain temples once existed in the places where we now have Hindu temples. Scholars like Mylai Seeni Venkatasami have written extensively about this. In fact, the social boycott against Buddhists and Jains gradually assumed the shape of untouchability. If you go on a demolition spree, there will be no end to it. I also agree, for argument’s sake, that the Ram temple was there in the place of Babri Masjid. But this was almost 450 years ago, and you cannot do anything about it now.
The Hindutva forces are making a hue and cry to further the cause of the construction of Ram temples, not out of their bhakti (devotion) or love for Lord Ram. They have a political agenda to polarise the country along religious lines, and are using the name of the Lord to further their agenda. They spread hatred against Christians and Muslims. They are doing this to retain the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in power.
There is an opinion that you target and criticise only the Hindu religion and not others…
There is no basis for that opinion. I may not have faith in God, but I do not ridicule those who do. When I respect the faith of Christians and Muslims, why should I criticise those who worship Hindu Gods? My mother makes me pray and offers holy ash whenever I visit home. I do not look down upon her actions. On December 2, I participated in a kumbabishekam at the Kamatchi Peetam in Coimbatore and performed rituals. The founder of the Peetam told his followers that he had invited me because of my love for humanism. The head of the Swamithoppu Temple in Kanniyakumari calls me his adopted son. I cannot behave like a hardcore Dravidian ideologue when it comes to religious faith. What we object [to] and fight [against] is untouchability and other sins practised in the name of Hinduism.
You said there was a political agenda behind the campaign against you. What is it?
Whenever the VCK becomes a part of an alliance with mainstream political parties, there is an attempt to sling mud at us. Now, we have extended our support to the DMK for the R.K. Nagar bypoll. That is why BJP leaders like H. Raja are running a campaign against me. Their objective is to create embarrassment for the DMK and put pressure on its leadership to evict us from the alliance.
There is a clear, hidden political agenda to ensure that the DMK does not win the bypoll and come to power subsequently, and also to ensure that the VCK does not benefit from this political alliance. The DMK can in no way be held accountable for statements attributed to me.
