'Those who divide people in name of religion can't be true spiritualists': Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin

In a veiled dig at BJP, MK Stalin said he ignores those accusing him of being anti-Hindu and that the accusations were from people trying to seek cheap publicity.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin

Photo : PTI
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday took a veiled dig at the BJP accusing them of playing religious card to "serve their ends". He also opined that religion cannot be a tool to divide people and those who do it cannot be true spiritualists.
He further said that those dividing people in the name of religion are not aware of DMK's contribution in development of the state.
While addressing a gathering in the temple town of Tiruvannamalai, MK Stalin said he was not against any religion but he opposed those dividing people on the basis of religion.
The Tamil Nadu CM said he was not running the DMK party or the government on the basis of religion but only with the objective of serving the people. To those wondering if temple renovation is a Dravidian model of governance, he said he would reiterate that such model of governance hinges on equitable development.
"To go a step further, I would say that the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Act was enacted in 1925 by our parent organisation, the Justice Party, to bring the temples under the control of the State government," Stalin said.
People who do politics in the name of religion would not know this as they lack genuine intention, he said in a veiled reference to the BJP, which has been highly critical of him.
"They are not real spiritualists. They are hypocrites. They play the religious card to serve their ends," the Chief Minister said.
He said the DMK's principles were nurtured on the philosophy of its leaders CN Annadurai and M Karunanidhi who emphasised that one can "see God in the smile of the poor (Eazhaiyin Sirippil Iraivanai Kanbom), one clan, one God (Ondre Kulam Oruvane Devan), and all beings are equal by birth (pirapokkum ella uyirkkum)."
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