In a fervent rebuke against DMK MP Kanimozhi's comments concerning the relevance of Sengol and Silapathigaram to the Tamil community, the President of BJP in Tamil Nadu, Annamalai, voiced his thoughts. His remarks emerged as a response to Kanimozhi’s endeavor to apprise Prime Minister Modi of the rich history and significance of these elements to the Tamil culture.

The narrative began when, in the midst of a discussion surrounding a no-confidence motion against the BJP government, DMK MP Kanimozhi made an impassioned statement.

“While you proudly showcased Sengol in the new Parliament, associating it with the Chola tradition, it’s evident that your grasp of Tamil Nadu's rich history is quite limited. Are you acquainted with the Pandiyan Sengol? This symbol crumbled when the king failed his subjects. I fervently urge you to focus less on imposing Hindi and more on absorbing the lessons in Sillappadhikaram. It’s replete with wisdom you all could benefit from,” she articulated.

Countering her stance, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced a perspective rooted in historical texts, emphasizing the distinction between the Dravidian ideology, which the DMK party upholds, and the rich Tamil culture depicted in Silapathigaram. Drawing upon the words of a known expert on Silapathigaram, Ma. Po. Si (Mayilai Ponnusamy Sivagnanam), she underscored the essence of Tamil identity by quoting,

“While we pride ourselves as Tamils, our lineage isn't rooted in Dravidam but Tamilagam. Our cultural compass stretches to Venkatam, not Vindhya. The Brahmins in our region aren’t outsiders, but intrinsic parts of our Tamil fold. Although our traditions might differ from those beyond Venkatam, they don’t stand in contradiction.”

Putting it succinctly, she clarified, “In essence, Silappadhikaram proclaims us as Tamils, not Dravidians.”

Amidst this debate, when questioned about Kanimozhi's assertions, Annamalai, the BJP head in Tamil Nadu, remarked candidly, “Discussing a dynast isn’t my interest.

The cadre here have carved their paths through dedication and hard work. My lineage isn't intertwined with the legacy of Karunanidhi. Remove Karunanidhi from Kanimozhi's narrative, and her identity dissolves.

Her aversion to Sengol in parliament perhaps stems from this. While Sengol resonates with the everyday Tamilian, reflecting their spirit, Kanimozhi appears as a mere echo of an entitled dynasty. Her words in the parliament hardly hold weight in my eyes. Now, if you were to discuss a DMK leader who's battled odds and emerged, I’d be eager to engage.”