Vice president Venkaiah Naidu dragged into Thiruvalluvar controversy

CHENNAI: Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday found himself in the midst of a controversy over attempts to ‘saffronise’ Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar. But, even as his tweet created a stir, it was hurriedly deleted.
“Remembering great Tamil Poet, philosopher and Saint, Thiruvalluvar on his Jayanti today. #Thirukkural, authored by him provides guidance to mankind on how to lead a noble life,” Naidu said in his tweet.“Considered as one of the greatest classics in #Tamil #Literature on morality, values and ethics, the treatise on a variety of subjects, including governance remains relevant for all times. #Thiruvalluvar,” he further said in the tweet.
This tweet, from the official handle @VPSecretariat of the Vice President of India looked innocuous at first glance, especially as it came on January 16, which is observed in Tamil Nadu as Thiruvalluvar Day. But, it soon caused a stir as Thiruvalluvar was in a saffron robe as against the usual white, and brought back memories of a recent tweet of the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP, showing Thiruvalluvar in a saffron robe, created quite a furore.
As if wanting to avoid any political fallout, the VP’s office quickly deleted the tweet. “The earlier tweet was posted by mistake by a staff of Vice President Secretariat and was deleted soon after it was noticed,” it said, in a fresh tweet. This time, Thiruvalluvar too was back in his usual white robe.
DMK MP from Dharmapuri S Senthil Kumar thanked Naidu for heeding the request and deleting the earlier tweet. “Thank you Vice-president Respected Venkiah Sir, Much respect and regards for deleting the Saffronised Thiruvalluvar picture and replacing with the Government official picture as requested,” the MP tweeted.
But, BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit was back with a tweet on Thiruvalluvar Day wishes. It carried a picture of Thiruvalluvar in a saffron robe. In a tweet, it even sought to link BJP’s election symbol ‘Lotus’ with Thirukkural. “One who bathes in a lotus pond will not seek another pond. Likewise, one who reads Thirukkural will not seek another book,” it said in a tweet, along with a picture of a saffronised Thiruvalluvar.
Later, it also sought to condemn a reported directive of the Malaysian government that asked Muslims not to partake in Pongal celebrations, by terming it a Hindu festival. Saying it was an attempt by Malaysia to separate Muslims from Tamils, the BJP tweet condemned the move.
However, there was a backlash soon after, with people questioning the party for poking its nose in the affairs of another country while seeking to create a division between the Hindu majority and the Muslim minorities at home. Some of them had even posted pictures of Muslim families in Malaysia celebrating Pongal.
The state BJP unit also sought to give a Hindu twist to 'jallikattu', a bull sport popular during the Pongal festival, by calling it a Hindu tradition.