‘Unacceptable’: Massive Row Over Tamil Poet Vairamuthu’s ‘Lord Ram’ Remark, BJP Hits Out
A major controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu after celebrated lyricist and poet Vairamuthu made contentious remarks about Lord Ram, prompting a furious backlash from the state’s BJP unit. The party has accused the poet of deliberately hurting religious sentiments and has questioned Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s silence on the matter, as the comments were made in his presence.
The political firestorm was ignited by Vairamuthu’s speech at an event organized by the Kamban Kazhagam, where he was honored with an award named after the ancient Tamil poet Kambar, the author of the Tamil Ramayana. Vairamuthu stated that Lord Ram, after being separated from Sita, lost his “mental balance” and acted without full awareness.
He then drew a parallel to Section 84 of the Indian Penal Code, which absolves individuals of criminal responsibility if they are of unsound mind. The poet argued that Kambar, while not knowing the law, understood human nature and used this principle to absolve Ram of any blame, a literary device that Vairamuthu claimed made Ram human while elevating Kambar to a divine status.
The remarks were met with swift and sharp condemnation from the BJP. State president Nainar Nagendran labeled the comments “unacceptable” and directly challenged the Chief Minister, asking whether he endorsed such views. Party spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy went further, calling Vairamuthu “a fool” and “someone who has lost his mind.”
The party also branded him a “repeat offender,” recalling a past controversy where his remarks on the revered Hindu Goddess Andal had sparked widespread outrage. The BJP is now demanding accountability from the state’s leadership over what it deems a grave insult to Hindu beliefs.
