CHENNAI: Hours after Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani opposed the visits of Vivekananda Ratha Yatras to schools, eminent commentator on social, political and economic issues S Gurumurthy wondered why he was opposing a programme that promotes respect for parents, teachers and elders as well as protection of women’s honour.
Organised by the Initiative for Moral and Cultural Training Foundation (IMCTF) and Hindu Spiritual and Service Foundation (HSSF), the yatras are being undertaken to spread awareness on the core messages of HSSF 2016 that will be organised in the city next month.
Veeramani, in a statement, claimed that allowing an yatra named after a saint of a religion into schools, goes against the principles of secularism. Taking strong exception to it, Gurumurthy said the Hindu fair and the yatra aim to spread the message of conservation of forest, protection of wildlife, preserving ecology, sustaining environment, preserving family and social values, protecting women’s honour and instilling patriotism.
On a sarcastic note, Gurumurthy thanked Veeramani for his opposition. “We have been struggling how to publicise the fairs without ad cost. Now Veeramani is the publicity manager for Fair. Welcome Mr Veeramani,” he tweeted, adding, “Why I thank Veeramani for opposing such a good thing? Whatever the DK opposes will grow. It opposed Lord Ganesa who got 1000s of temples... Wearing black shirts Veeramani and his preceptor opposed Hindu gods. Now millions of Tamils go to Sabarimala wearing the same black shirt.”