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V-P changes Thiruvalluvar's image in tweet to avoid row

After receiving criticism from Twitter users, VP Venkaiah Naidu deleted the picture of saint-poet Thiruvalluvar in saffron robes that he had earlier shared on his handle. The picture received different reactions from Twitterati with some opposing it and others endorsing the same.

VP Naidu tweets pic of Thiruvalluvar in saffron robes, deletes
VP Naidu tweets pic of Thiruvalluvar in saffron robes, deletes
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Published : Jan 16, 2020, 8:03 PM IST

Updated : Jan 16, 2020, 9:50 PM IST

Chennai: Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday changed the picture of Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar in his tweet to avoid any controversy.

In a tweet praising Thiruvalluvar who wrote Thirukural, Naidu said: "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." Thiruvalluvar Jayanti was celebrated on Thursday.

  • The earlier tweet was posted by mistake by a staff of Vice President Secretariat and was deleted soon after it was noticed.

    — Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) January 16, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data=" ">

Naidu had tweeted an image of Thiruvalluvar in saffron dhoti with sacred ash on forehead and biceps. He soon replaced the image with Tamil Nadu government's official image of Thiruvalluvar sporting a white dhoti and no sacred ash on the forehead.

"The earlier tweet was posted by mistake by a staff of the Vice-President Secretariat and was deleted soon after it was noticed," he said.

Late last year, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Tamil Nadu unit had tweeted an image of Thiruvalluvar in saffron dhoti with sacred ash on forehead and biceps. A couplet by Thiruvalluvar questioning the use of education for a person if he/she doesn't pray at the god's feet had also been posted.

Reacting to that tweet, DMK chief M.K. Stalin had said the BJP's attempts to saffronise Thiruvalluvar was 'Tamil betrayal'. The colour would run off even if it was dyed several times, Stalin told the BJP. "Instead of dyeing, read Thirukkural and try to reform," Stalin advised.

Thirukkural or sacred verses, written by Thiruvalluvar over 2,000 years ago, comprises 1,330 couplets on ethics and morality.

Read:| J-K: Five more political leaders released from detention

Chennai: Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday changed the picture of Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar in his tweet to avoid any controversy.

In a tweet praising Thiruvalluvar who wrote Thirukural, Naidu said: "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." Thiruvalluvar Jayanti was celebrated on Thursday.

  • The earlier tweet was posted by mistake by a staff of Vice President Secretariat and was deleted soon after it was noticed.

    — Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) January 16, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data=" ">

Naidu had tweeted an image of Thiruvalluvar in saffron dhoti with sacred ash on forehead and biceps. He soon replaced the image with Tamil Nadu government's official image of Thiruvalluvar sporting a white dhoti and no sacred ash on the forehead.

"The earlier tweet was posted by mistake by a staff of the Vice-President Secretariat and was deleted soon after it was noticed," he said.

Late last year, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Tamil Nadu unit had tweeted an image of Thiruvalluvar in saffron dhoti with sacred ash on forehead and biceps. A couplet by Thiruvalluvar questioning the use of education for a person if he/she doesn't pray at the god's feet had also been posted.

Reacting to that tweet, DMK chief M.K. Stalin had said the BJP's attempts to saffronise Thiruvalluvar was 'Tamil betrayal'. The colour would run off even if it was dyed several times, Stalin told the BJP. "Instead of dyeing, read Thirukkural and try to reform," Stalin advised.

Thirukkural or sacred verses, written by Thiruvalluvar over 2,000 years ago, comprises 1,330 couplets on ethics and morality.

Read:| J-K: Five more political leaders released from detention

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URG GEN NAT
.CHENNAI MDS20
TN-THIRUVALLUVAR-VICE PREZ
VP Naidu tweets pic of Thiruvalluvar in saffron robes, deletes
Chennai, Jan 16 (PTI) Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on
Thursday tweeted a picture of saint-poet Thiruvalluvar with
saffron robes and deleted it later after drawing flak from
the twitterati.
As soon as the image of the celebrated poet in saffron
and Hindu religious symbols like holy ash was noticed, a
section of users on the social networking service opposed it.
There were also others who endorsed the picture of the
saint in saffron robes.
"@VPSecretariat, please use the official picture of
#Thiruvalluvar from TN Govt. This is not right.
Please remove the saffronised picture you have posted
depicting him in religion and caste. He is celebrated by all,"
said Dr Senthilkumar.S @DrSenthil_MDRD, Dharmapuri DMK MP.
Following such comments, the picture was replaced with
an image usually used in Tamil Nadu and approved by the State
government that depicts the poet in white robes, sans any
religious symbols.
In a tweet, the vice president said, "The earlier tweet
was posted by mistake by a staff of Vice President Secretariat
and was deleted soon after it was noticed."
Many users, including Senthilkumar, thanked the vice
president for replacing the image with one that is acceptable
to all.
On Thiruvalluvar day that is observed today, Naidu in
a series of tweets paid rich tributes to the poet.
"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. Thiruvalluvar Tamil,"
the vice president tweeted.
Also, he said: "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."
Recently, a controversy erupted in Tamil Nadu after the
BJP state unit tweeted a picture of the poet in saffron robes
and religious symbols.
Though several parties, including the DMK opposed it, the
saffron party maintained that there was nothing wrong in it
since "Thiruvalluvar was a Hindu saint." PTI VGN
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Last Updated : Jan 16, 2020, 9:50 PM IST

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