Hours after announcing that he would offer prayers at the Subramania Swamy temple and the Sikkandar Dargah in Tirupparakundram, as a counter to protests by the Hindu Munnani, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai was reportedly subjected to a ‘caste slur’ from a senior Congress leader from the south.
The incident allegedly occurred when the senior leader called Mr. Selvaperunthagai to protest against the announcement, which he felt would “alienate Hindu voters”.
A party source said the comments were made in the presence of a few other senior office-bearers of the ‘war room’ in the party headquarters here. It is to be noted that the alleged slur comes at a time when the Congress is being led by Mallikarjun Kharge, a party veteran and a Dalit, the party leaders pointed out. The source said that the TNCC chief would lodge a complaint with the high command against the leader. Mr. Selvaperunthagai declined to comment.
