The AIADMK in Tamil Nadu responded with a statement clarifying their stance, after the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) condemned the disrespect of Dravidian leaders CN Annadurai and EV ‘Periyar’ Ramaswamy in a video shown at a Hindu group-organised conference.

On Sunday, a BJP and Hindu Munnani-aligned Murugan devotees’ conference was held in Madurai, where a video was played which allegedly criticised the icons of Dravidian movement.

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Senior AIADMK leaders, including Sellur Raju and Rajendra Balaji, attended the event. Their presence drew heavy criticism, especially from the DMK, which accused the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) of betraying its Dravidian roots.

DMK Organisational Secretary RS Bharathi slammed the AIADMK over the slight and accused the rival party of aligning with Hindutva forces and questioning its loyalty to Dravidian values.

“If AIADMK is enjoying criticism of Anna, is your blood AIADMK or BJP,” he asked. “Will you remain motionless even if your mother or wife is criticised?”

Asking whether the AIADMK replace the “Anna” in their name with “Amit Shah”, Bharathi said: “After Murugan Conference, RSS Centenary celebrations, will (Edappadi K) Palanisamy take refuge in Nagpur? AIADMK has dissolved in Hindutva.”

The AIADMK distanced itself from the video and issued a statement condemning any disrespect toward Periyar and Anna. It claimed its leaders were unaware of the content being shown at the time.

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The party asserted that Dravidian ideology was “mixed in its partymen’s blood” and clarified that although its leaders participated in the conference, they did not endorse the resolutions or the pledges taken there.

“The visuals of Thanthai Periyar and Anna shown in the conference is not acceptable and we express deep condemnation against it,” AIADMK said in a statement, adding that they didn’t know such a video was being shown to the public, until it was revealed in the media.

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