Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai has thrown a fresh campaign against the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu by vowing that the statues of Dravidian stalwart and social reformer Thanthai Periyar that are erected near temples will be removed if BJP comes to power in the state. Annamalai has also said that the messages against Hindu Gods will also be turned down after the saffron party takes the reign. 

In the midst of his controversial leadership, Annamalai has been beefing up to strengthen the BJP in Tamil Nadu despite having a fat chance for its political aspirations. The IPS officer-turned-politician has been carrying out a statewide rally and on Tuesday - November 7, Annamalai addressed the cadres in front of Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, Trichy. 

While addressing the cadres, he rolled out a campaign against Thanthai Periyar that sparked staunch jibes against him from the Dravidian outfits. Annamalai said, "If there is a party that's against the people, it is DMK. For example, when DMK came to power in 1967, they erected a plaque outside this temple and what does it say? 'Those who believe in God are fools, those who believe in God have been tricked. Do not believe in God." 

Annamalai further said, "They (DMK) have installed these plaques outside all temples and erected flags. However, Hindus are living peacefully despite all these events. So today, the BJP has taken a resolution in Srirangam. The moment BJP comes to power in Tamil Nadu, we will remove all these statues and flagpoles that say there is no God." Annamalai went on to say that after BJP comes to power, the statues of Thanthai Periyar near the temples will also be removed. 

It is pertinent to note that a Periyar statue has been erected in front of Srirangam temple and several Hindutva agents have been building up a campaign that the statue must be erected. Annamalai has referred to a plaque that was placed beneath Periyar's statue that says Periyar's advocacy of not to believe in God. Veteran BJP leader H Raja has been a strong campaigner against Periyar's movement and his teachings and for his controversial remarks, Raja had also faced legal troubles. 

Now, Annamalai is seemingly expanding the propaganda of Hindutva agents against Periyar. The BJP chief has also said that after removing the statues of Periyar, the saffron party would erect the statues of Alvar and Nayanar - the saints of Vaishnavite and Savaite respectively, the statues of Thiruvalluvar, Tamil poets, and freedom fighters. 

His remarks had clearly displayed the BJP's efforts to saffronise Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar as such efforts have been initiated for a long time by Hindutva outfits. Responding to the ongoing Sanatana Dharma controversy, Annamalai said, "They (DMK) say that they will eradicate Sanatana Dharma. The evil force in Tamil Nadu called DMK has said that they will not allow Tamil Nadu's Hindus to practise Sanatana Dharma. All parties in Tamil Nadu claim to be friends of Hindus, but not even one of them will say that they will remove statues that say there is no God."