When an atheist past didn’t deter DMK from cleaning temple ponds – Times of India

There were more questions than claps when the DMK in April end announced that the party will desilt water bodies on temple premises. With atheism being a core value of prominent DMK leaders, it came as a surprise when the party chose temples as its place of public service. Barbs came flying from rival political parties including the AIADMK and the BJP. Their target was DMK's working president M K Stalin, who has been criticising the Centre and the state government for neglecting the state. "DMK is desilting temple tanks as God has made them to do that work. The party is seeking pava vimochanam (salvation for their sin)," said BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan a few days ago.

DMK leaders, however, say the party has never propagated atheism and has believers in its fold. Even though many leaders and cadres of the party have followed in the footsteps of Dravidar Kazhagam founder Periyar, they say, their beliefs have never kept them from executing their duties.

"Many of us are followers of Periyar and thus don't believe in God. But that does not stop us from cleaning temple tanks. It is the government's responsibility to desilt the tanks and as it has failed to execute its duties, as the opposition it is our responsibility to carry out the work," says DMK spokesman and Rajya Sabha member T K S Elangovan.

The party has several believers, both cadres and leaders, who wear sacred ash and kumkum.

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When an atheist past didn't deter DMK from cleaning temple ponds - Times of India