Spat with Saravanan - Tamil Malar accused of mocking Hinduism

Tamil Malar has courted flak for publishing a photograph of Deputy Youth and Sports Minister M Saravanan fulfilling a religious vow during Thaipusam with a headline deemed as mocking Hinduism on its front-page.

The headline was based on a Tamil song.

In a statement today, MIC information chief VS Mohan lambasted Tamil Malar for "using religion to settle political scores."

"It would not be a lie to say the report has insulted all Hindus. It is common for Hindus to pay penance to the Gods. This is what Saravanan did. How is it acceptable to publish a photograph of him doing this with a Tamil dance number's title? MIC strongly condemns this.

"The police have spoken to both parties involved in the squabble and investigations are ongoing. Thus, by continuing to publish such reports, Tamil Malar has gone out of character," he said.

Mohan further claimed the daily had always spun reports to demonise the government and MIC.

"It is up to the police to find out who did wrong and take further action. How can the daily continue to demonise Saravanan, with their reports, on a daily basis (since last week's squabble)?

"It is also funny that the daily is gaining mileage from the incident, by working with opposition parties," he added.

Meanwhile, a WhatsApp message being circulated is urging Hindus to lodge police reports against the daily.

"A Tamil paper is making fun of a Hindu guy who took Kavadi. What's going to be your reaction Hindus of Malaysia? Are you going to silent because the joke is on a MIC guy?" read the message, noting that the daily could have used other photograph of Saravanan for its report.

Saravanan allegedly turned up at Tamil Malar office last Tuesday with a group of men, some of whom were clad in "MIC Taskforce" shirts, over a news report carried by the daily on rental issues concerning the Federal Territory MIC building, of which Saravanan is the chief.

An ensuing melee saw three people, including the daily's legal advisor K Saraswathy, attacked. Her phone was also snatched.

Saravanan has claimed that he was there to "break up" a fight which had erupted but the daily had claimed that the fight only started after he arrived.

Police are probing the case for rioting. - Mkini