HR&CE's Vinayagar Chaturthi wishes draws flak from DMK MP

CHENNAI: At a time when BJP leaders were demanding Chief Minister MK Stalin to extend his wishes for Vinayagar Chaturthi, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) was the only department to wish on Vinayagar Chaturthi, on Twitter. However, the department was criticised by none other than DMK MP S Senthilkumar.

Recalling the words of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Senthil, in a tweet, said "HR&CE department was established only to administer the properties of Hindus and not to worship God or to extend wishes for festivals".

Earlier, BJP leaders questioned the Chief Minister for not extending his wishes for Vinayagar Chaturthi while wishing for festivals of other religions. Replying to the criticism, HR&CE department posted the picture of Lord Vinayagar and posted a Vinayagar Chaturthi wish for the public.

தங்களுக்கும், தங்கள் குடும்பத்தார் அனைவருக்கும் இனிய விநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி வாழ்த்துக்கள். இந்து சமய அறநிலையத்துறை. #tnhrce #mkstalin #pksekarbabu pic.twitter.com/8RXEd2AYws

— TN HRCE (@tnhrcedept) August 31, 2022

While members of 'right' parties welcomed the post saying that the wish for Vinayagar Chaturthi was officially given by the government, it was the DMK sympathisers, who criticised the HR&CE department, by recalling the words of another former Chief Minister C N Annadurai who called Lord Ganesh as the God who came to Tamil Nadu from North India and worship of Lord Ganesh was imposed on Tamils.

However, this is not the first time that either DMK or Senthil have raised their voices when the State government is deviating from its core principles as recently the Dharmapuri MP questioned the PWD officials for conducting "Bhoomi Pooja" for a government project saying that either rituals of all religions and atheists should be done or no ritual should be done.

Meanwhile, Naam Tamilar Kachi Chief Seeman questioned the Chief Minister for not wishing on Vinayagar Chaturthi. "The Chief Minister claims that 90 per cent of his party men are Hindus and if it is true why does not he wish for Vinayagar Chaturthi. If every religion is equal for the Chief Minister and if he can participate in Christmas and Ramzan functions why not participate in temple functions, " asked Seeman.