The Hindu Tilak Controversy gained national attention when the minister’s remarks, made during a local event, were shared widely on social media, prompting swift backlash. The DMK party, known for its secular stance, acted quickly to control the damage by stripping him of his position.
Party officials stated that the comments did not reflect the party’s values and expressed regret for hurting public sentiment. The incident has not only triggered political ripples but also reignited debates over religious sensitivity in political discourse.
Hindu Tilak Controversy: DMK Minister Sacked After Vulgar Remarks Spark Outrage
The Hindu Tilak Controversy continues to trend on social media as citizens demand accountability and stricter norms for public office bearers
Hindu ’tilaks’ were linked to sexual postures in a crude joke made by Tamil Nadu politician K Ponmudi in a public setting. Outrage was triggered by the comments, which even party head Kanimozhi condemned. He was dismissed as deputy general secretary by the DMK.
Senior DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K Ponmudi caused controversy when he made comments at a public event that connected sexual orientations to Hindu religious identities.
Ponmudi is heard stating, “Women, please don’t misunderstand,” in a widely shared video from the event. The video then goes on to tell a joke about a man visiting a sex worker, who then asks the man if he is Shaivite or Vaishnavite.
When the man in the story is unable to understand, she explains by inquiring as to whether he wears a naamam (a vertical tilak linked with Vaishnavism) or a pattai (a horizontal tilak associated with Shaivism). She goes on to say that the position is “lying down” if he is Shaivite and “standing up” if he is Vaishnavite.
Amid the Hindu Tilak Controversy, DMK MP Kanimozhi condemned the statement made by Minister Ponmudi. In a post on X, she wrote, “Minister Ponmudi’s recent speech is unacceptable. Regardless of the reason for the speech, such vulgar remarks are condemnable.
Hindu Tilak Controversy: BJP Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai slammed the DMK over Minister Ponmudi’s controversial remarks, calling it reflective of the party’s standard of political discourse. “Not just this Minister, the entire DMK ecosystem is vulgar, foul-mouthed, and uncouth. Hang your head in shame, Thiru @mkstalin, for leading such a disgraceful pack,” Annamalai wrote on X.
“Will you ever have the guts to throw him out of his chair and position?” actor and BJP leader Khushbu Sundar said in a post on X, tagging Chief Minister MK Stalin. Or do you and your group take sadistic joy in disparaging Hinduism and women?
She also questioned if “the women in your household approve of these insults when they visit temples brazenly.”
Ponmudi was criticized by singer Chinmayi Sripaada for normalizing such comments under the guise of humor.
Hindu Tilak Controversy: Reacting strongly to Minister Ponmudi’s offensive remarks, a user wrote on X, “This is a joke. The joke is on us,” adding, “There has GOT to be some sort of a divinity or a Goddess or a God that will punish this.” The comment reflects the growing outrage surrounding the Hindu Tilak Controversy, which has drawn criticism across political and public platforms.
Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP’s IT Cell, described it as an extension of the DMK’s purported attacks against Hinduism. “Whether it’s DMK, Congress, TMC, or RJD, members of the I.N.D.I. Alliance seem united not by ideology, but by a shared disdain for Hindu beliefs,” Malviya stated, referring to previous statements made by Udhayanidhi Stalin regarding Sanatan Dharma.
Hindu Tilak Controversy: The backlash over Minister Ponmudi’s controversial comments on Hindu tilaks prompted swift action from the DMK leadership. In response to the growing public and political outrage surrounding the Hindu Tilak Controversy, the party removed Ponmudi from his position as deputy general secretary. He has now been replaced by senior leader Tiruchi N Siva.
