'Personal Commitments': Stalin Unable To Attend Ayyappa Event After 'Hitler Celebrating Jews' Row

Last Updated:August 25, 2025, 22:59 IST

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin wrote to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan about his unavailability and said he will be sending two of his ministers on behalf of the state government

The Kerala government invited Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin (L) for the Global Ayyappa Sangamam event next month. (Image: PTI/File)

Two days after a political controversy was triggered over the Kerala government’s invitation to him for the Global Ayyappa Sangam next month, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said he will be unable to attend the event due to “personal commitments".

Stalin wrote to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan about his unavailability for the event in Pathanamthitta district, which is aimed at elevating Sabarimala to a global pilgrimage centre. He told Vijayan that he will be sending two state cabinet ministers on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government for the event.

Devaswom minister VN Vasavan visited Stalin in Chennai and invited him to the event, which will be organised by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) in association with the Kerala government on September 20 at Pampa.

Responding to the invitation, the BJP lambasted the Kerala government for inviting him to the Ayyappa event while comparing the move to Hitler celebrating Jews. It said it will resist the participation of both the CMs from Kerala and Tamil Nadu if they do not apologise to Hindus.

WHAT IS THE CONTROVERSY?

A day after the invitation went out to Stalin, in a scathing attack, Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleged that both Vijayan and Stalin, along with Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi, had insulted Hindus, their faith and Sabarimala.

“Both of you (Stalin and Vijayan) have, over the years, harmed and insulted Sabarimala, ‘Ayyappa bhakts’ (devotees) and Hindu faith. Pinarayi Vijayan has imprisoned many ‘Ayyappa bhakts’, filed cases against many more, inflicted police violence against ‘Ayyappa bhakts’ and done everything to violate and insult sacred traditions of Sabarimala," Chandrasekhar said in a post on Facebook. “Stalin and his dynast son have repeatedly insulted Hindus and referred to Hindu faith as a virus amongst other things."

Calling the move to organise the Ayyappa event a “drama" before elections and a part of the “fool the people" strategy, Chandrasekhar said these insults were “deeply etched" in the memory of every Hindu and “will never be forgotten or forgiven". He said Vijayan, Stalin and Udhayanidhi can take part in the event “if they apologise to Hindus and Sabarimala Ayyappa bhakts".

He was referring to the Left Front government’s 2018 decision to allow the entry of women of menstruating age into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala following a Supreme Court order, and to Udhayanidhi’s statement against Sanatana Dharma.

A day before Stalin told Vijayan that he will not be present for the Ayyappa event, BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan questioned his “acceptance" of the invitation. About the Kerala CM’s decision, she said it was the “highest hypocrisy" to invite a man who has repeatedly insulted “Hindu sentiments".

“Inviting Stalin, for the Ayyappa devotees’ conclave, is the highest hypocrisy. Stalin has accepted it. He has not accepted any invitation from the Hindu faith in Tamil Nadu, his own state… They repeatedly insult the Hindu sentiments…his son said Sanatana Dharma is like a virus, it should be crushed like dengue… Stalin has not gone to any temple; there are more than 35,000 temples in Tamil Nadu…" Soundararajan said.

She added: “Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan may be ignorant about Stalin, but how can he accept the invitation? Stalin is a Periyarist, and by inviting him, they are insulting the Ayyappa devotees. They think anything can be done for politics… It is the highest hypocrisy. Stalin should apologise to the Hindu faith…"

(With agency inputs)

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