In the wake of a series of police crackdowns on their partymen, several leaders of a ‘progressive’ DMK are now trying their luck with divinity to evade possible arrest.
Former minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam is among a host of DMK bigwigs cooling their heels in prisons across the state.
A few other ex-ministers, who fear similar land grab charges may be laid against them in the AIADMK regime, are now busy undertaking pilgrimage to ward off ill luck.
Two prominent leaders of the atheist Dravidian party – former transport minister K.N. Nehru and former health minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam – made a surprise visit to the famous Sri Sankaranarayana Swamy in Sankarankovil in Tirunelveli district on Wednesday.
Clad in trademark red-and-black bordered dhotis and sporting kumkum on their foreheads, the DMK strongmen offered special prayers and performed abishegam to Sarpa Vinayaga on the Sankadahara Chathurthi, a day considered auspicious by believers.
Hindus believe that offering special prayers at the temple on the Chathurthi eve would save them from any crisis in life.
Till not so long ago, such open display of devotion to God was considered an insult to the principles of the DMK whose rationalist president M. Karunanidhi has been a strong votary of atheism.
He has at times various times chided his partymen publicly for walking on fire to prove faith, wearing tilak on the forehead and such other symbolism of faith in God.
The distinction between the DMK and AIADMK is fast fading, as more and more members of Karunanidhi’s family have turned out to be firm believers in Hinduism and seemingly competing with each other to go to temples and pray to God.