Saffron vs White: BJP's Thiruvalluvar Tribute Sparks Row on Birth Anniversary

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{ "title": "Saffron vs White: BJP's Thiruvalluvar Tribute Sparks Row on Birth Anniversary", "article": "Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Tamil Nadu BJP's former state president K Annamalai revived an age-old controversy on Friday by using portraits of saint Thiruvalluvar in saffron robes and holy ash, marking his birth anniversary. In contrast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes without using any photo, sticking to the state government's official image of Thiruvalluvar clad in white robes without any religious markings. The BJP's move has reignited a long-standing debate with the ruling DMK, which has previously accused the party of attempting to 'saffronise' everything. The DMK has maintained that Thiruvalluvar's vision was rooted in social justice, and his image should not be politicized. Annamalai and Shah's posts on social media featured Thiruvalluvar in saffron robes, sparking criticism from the DMK. In a counter move, the AIADMK, a BJP ally, stuck to the state-recognized image of Thiruvalluvar in white robes. The DMK has accused the BJP of using a calculated political move to portray a different image of the saint. The controversy comes a day after Shah deleted his tweet greeting people for Thiruvalluvar Day, following criticism from the DMK that the BJP doesn't understand Tamils and Tamil Nadu. DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin paid tributes to Thiruvalluvar in a white robe, reiterating that the saint's vision was about social justice and not about religious affiliations. The BJP's move has been seen as an attempt to politicize Thiruvalluvar's legacy, which has been a subject of debate in the past. The DMK has maintained that the saint's image should not be used for political purposes, and his legacy should be respected as a symbol of social justice and harmony."