'Height of arrogance': BJP slams DMK for placing temple 'gopuram' on Karunanidhi memorial

The BJP leaders questioned the appropriateness of such symbolism in the wake of Karunanidhi’s well-known rationalist and atheist views.

A newly unveiled structure resembling a temple gopuram atop the memorial of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has sparked a political row with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the ruling DMK of hypocrisy and disrespecting Hindu sentiments.

Sharing a picture on social media of the memorial decorated with a replica of Srivilliputhur temple ‘gopuram’, on social media, Tamil Nadu BJP vice-president Narayanan Thirupathy called for its immediate removal and slammed the DMK.

“I strongly condemn the DMK for placing a temple Gopuram on top of the former Chief minister Mr. Karunnidhi’s burial place. This is (the) height of arrogance and stupidity to the core. How can a temple gopuram be portrayed on a place where a body is buried. This is an assault on the faith and beliefs of HIndus,” Thirupathy wrote, asking Chief Minister MK Stalin for it to be immediately removed. “Playing with the sentiments of the Hindus will cost DMK in future,” he wrote in the post.

Taking to X, another BJP leader, Narayanan Thirupathy, called the inclusion of the gopuram design “an assault on Hindu beliefs.” He wrote, “I strongly condemn the @arivalayam for placing a temple Gopuram on top of the former Chief minister Mr. Karunnidhi’s burial place. This is height of arrogance and stupidity to the core. How can a temple gopuram be portrayed on a place where a body is buried. This is an assault on the faith and beliefs of Hindus."

Former BJP state chief K Annamalai echoed the sentiment, alleging that Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) PK Sekar Babu was “acting beyond limits” in an effort to impress the Chief Minister’s family.

“The DMK, who claim to have no faith in God, has been making a living by hurting the beliefs of Hindus for a long time,” Annamalai said. “If he continues to act out in the name of atheism and insult Hindu religious beliefs, people will teach him a proper lesson.”