Pawan Kalyan slams 'fake secularists' for selective targeting of Hindusim

Madurai: Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Sunday slammed "fake secularists" for targeting the Hindu faith in the name of freedom of expression and called for respecting all religions.

Addressing a massive "Muruga Bhakthargal Maanadu," a conference of devotees of Lord Murugan, here, Kalyan said he was "not a fanatic Hindu, but a committed Hindu."

The conference was organised by the Hindu Munnani (Hindu Front) and saw the participation of various Hindu organisations, outfits, pontiffs and leaders of AIADMK and the BJP, including K Annamalai.

In his address, largely given in Tamil, Kalyan said the word secularism was a "convenient word" for a lot of people.

"Specifically to atheists who don't believe in god; they should not believe in all gods. In India, they wouldn't believe in Hindu gods. Secularism means no discrimination against any religion, but for them, secularism means no discrimination against any religion except Hinduism," he said.

Further, the Jana Sena Party founder said freedom of expression was one "great weapon given by the Constitution." It has become common to target Hindu gods in the name of freedom of expression.

"This has to change. If this doesn't change, it would be very difficult o sustain our religion, faith," he said.

The deputy CM said, "I am not a fanatic Hindu, but a committed Hindu. I respect Christianity, Islam. My plea is don't disrespect my faith." He said 'aram' (Dharma) was deep in the country and called it the strength of the land.

He slammed the critics of the conference for asking why it was not being held in states like Gujarat or Maharashtra and that it was an attempt to create divisions in the state by holding it in this southern TN city.

He expressed fears that such questions may be directed tomorrow at Lord Shiva or Goddess Amman and said such a thought is "very very dangerous." He said many people question Hindu practices.

"A Christian can be a Christian, a Muslim can be a Muslim but they have a problem if a Hindu is Hindu. If one is Hindu, they call him communal. This is their fake secularism. Who are you to question my belief. We don't question your belief, you should follow that decency," he said.

"You may not respect my faith but don't disrespect it," Kalyan said and asked if such questions would be directed at faith "that had come from Arabia." Hindus' patience should not be mistaken to be weakness and they should not be provoked, he warned.

He said while Lord Murugan is a Tamil god, he is everywhere--as Karthikeya in the north, Subrahmanya in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

He rued that 'Kanda Sashti Kavacham,' a hymn sung in praise of Lord Murugan, had been ridiculed earlier, apparently referring to a controversy in this connection a few years ago in Tamil Nadu.

"They have the right (freedom of expression) which this democracy has given. They have made fun of my faith, culture...who are they to malign other's faith, question Murugan," he said, and exhorted everyone to protect dharma.

"Change is bound to happen," he added.

Kalyan was dressed in a green 'veshti' (dhoti), and an angavastram around the neck, both typically worn by Murugan devotees, and a white shirt.

In his address, former state president of the BJP, Annamalai, said this conference was about seeking our rights in many issues. It was not a political conference but one held to raise questions.

"We are not enemies to anyone, only trying to assert our rights...Hindus are enemies only to those who consider us enemies," he said.

Hindu Munnani chief Kadeswara Subramniam, local AIADMK MLAs and former ministers R B Udayakumar and Sellur K Raju, BJP TN chief Naina Narendran among others participated.

Later, the 'Kanda Sashti Kavacham' was mass recited at the venue.