The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday erupted in celebration, terming a recent Madras High Court order a significant triumph for Hindu religious principles, a win for devotees, and a firm rebuke to what it calls the 'appeasement politics' of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its allies.
Goyal Launches Broadside Against DMK Government
Union Minister and BJP's in-charge for the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections, Piyush Goyal, led the offensive. He strongly criticized the Tamil Nadu state government for its indicated plan to appeal against the court's decision. Goyal framed this potential move as a continuation of the state administration's 'anti-Hindu' politics.
He warned that the people would teach the DMK a lesson, drawing a parallel with the recent electoral setback faced by the INDIA bloc in Bihar. The court order has quickly become a central political flashpoint with state polls due in a few months.
Opposition MPs' Notice Against Judge Draws Fire
Seizing the opportunity to attack the Opposition on a wider national scale, Goyal pointed to a notice submitted in the Lok Sabha during the last Parliament session. This notice, aimed at moving a motion for the removal of Justice G.R. Swaminathan – the judge who originally passed the order now upheld by a division bench – had signatories from multiple opposition parties.
As many as 107 MPs, including Congress's Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with MPs from DMK, Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP(SP), had submitted the notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The Speaker's office is currently examining it.
Maharashtra Politics and 'Anti-Hindu' Allegations
With an eye on the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls in Maharashtra on January 15, Goyal extended his criticism to regional allies of the INDIA bloc. He specifically targeted Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, alleging that he has turned 'anti-Hindu' and abandoned the ideals of his father, Balasaheb Thackeray.
Goyal asserted that the people of Maharashtra, who have faith in Hindutva, would never vote for such 'anti-Hindu' parties. This connects the Tamil Nadu judicial development directly to the simmering political contest in Maharashtra.
The BJP's forceful reaction underscores its strategy to position itself as the sole protector of Hindu interests, using legal and political developments to corner opposition parties ahead of key electoral battles at both the state and local levels.
