While Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin is currently facing heat in the case of hate speech against Sanatan Dharma, DMK ministers have not refrained from making vitriolic remarks against Hinduism and its religious practices. In the latest instance, Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K. Ponmudy sparked fresh controversy by making vulgar comments about Shaivism and Vaishnavism, linking the two Hindu sects to sexual positions. Following massive public outrage and strong opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party, the DMK — which had earlier promoted Udhayanidhi Stalin despite his contentious remarks on Sanatan Dharma — was this time compelled to remove the controversial minister from his post.
The recent anti-Hindu controversy erupted when the DMK Minister gave a controversial speech, the video of which is currently doing rounds on social media platforms. In the viral video from an event, Ponmudy said, “Women, please don’t misunderstand,” as he started narrating a vulgar joke demeaning Hindu sects, Shaivism and Vaishnavism.
In the distasteful joke, he said a man visits a sex worker, who then asks the man whether he is a Shaivite or Vaishnavite. He added that when the man didn’t understand what she meant, the sex worker clarified by asking him whether he applies a pattai – (horizontal tilak, associated with Shaivism) or a naamam (vertical tilak, associated with Vaishnavism).
She then explained that if he’s a Shaivite, the position is “lying down,” and if Vaishnavite, the position is “standing up”, the DMK leader was quoted saying in India Today report.
Soon his vulgar joke went viral, triggering public outrage. In a rare occurrence, DMK MP Kanimozhi condemned the distasteful joke by her colleague Ponmudy.
Taking to X, the DMK MP wrote, “Minister Ponmudi’s recent speech is unacceptable. Regardless of the reason for the speech, such vulgar remarks are condemnable.”
Actor and BJP leader Khushbu Sundar also slammed Pondumy for his remarks. Tagging Chief Minister MK Stalin, she asked, “Will you ever have the guts to throw him out of his chair and position? Or you and your party find sadistic pleasures in insulting women and Hinduism?” She also posed a query saying, if “the women in your household approve of these insults when they visit temples brazenly.”
Mr @mkstalin avl, this is your Minister, an education minister for that. Such a disgusting mindset he has and his words describe him better than what i can say. Will you ever have the guts to throw him out of his chair and position? Or you and your party find sadistic pleasures… https://t.co/vqFMWpyXs0
— KhushbuSundar (@khushsundar) April 10, 2025
Coming down heavily on the DMK leader, Singer Chinmayi Sripaada wrote, “This is a joke. The joke is on us,” adding, “There has GOT to be some sort of a divinity or a Goddess or a God that will punish this.”
This is Minister of Forests, Mister Ponmudi from Tamilnadu. He previously held posts as a Minister for Science and Tech; and Education in Tamilnadu.
He describes a ‘joke’ because apparently there is a ‘market’ for these jokes in a public gathering, about a man who goes to a sex… https://t.co/Szy2YCINsF
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) April 10, 2025
BJP leader Amit Malviya wrote, “Whether it’s DMK, Congress, TMC, or RJD, members of the I.N.D.I. Alliance seem united not by ideology, but by a shared disdain for Hindu beliefs.”
After Udhayanidhi Stalin’s disgraceful attack on Sanatan Dharma, DMK Minister K. Ponmudy has now taken the baton of Hindu-bashing forward.
At a public event, Ponmudy recounted a vulgar anecdote involving a prostitute and a man, where he mockingly reduced sacred Hindu symbols to… pic.twitter.com/boB0ECWx0a
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 11, 2025
Facing mounting public outrage and stern opposition by the Bharatiya Janata Party, DMK was compelled to remove Ponmudy from the post of deputy general secretary of the party. As per reports, Tiruchi N Siva has now replaced Ponmudi in the post.
Incidentally, Ponmudy had earlier sparked controversy when he demeaned north Indians by dubbing them as pani puri sellers.
