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BJP leaders tweet clipped video, share T R Baalu’s remarks on ‘demolishing temples’ sans context

A 40-second-long clip of DMK MP T R Baalu speaking at an event has gone viral on social media. It is claimed that the leader was boasting about demolishing Hindu temples in his speech.

In the video, Baalu can be heard saying, “I have demolished 100-year-old temples in my hometown, in my constituency — a Saraswati temple, a Lakshmi temple… and a Parvati temple. All three temples were in my constituency on the GST (Grand Southern Trunk) Road. I demolished them knowing that I would not get votes for my actions. But I also knew how to get votes from the people. So friends, all I am saying is don’t take tension that you won’t get votes…”

Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai tweeted the clip and wrote, “DMK men take pride in demolishing 100-year-old Hindu temples.” He also said this was the reason why BJP TN wanted the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to be dissolved so that “temples can be freed from the clutches of government.”

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union minister of state for entrepreneurship, skill development, electronics & technology, quote tweeted a tweet by ‘Megh Updates’, an account with a history of sharing unverified and communally charged information, and wrote, “Rahul n Cong Partners in TN wth Hindu hating @arivalayam DMK and in Maharashtra wth @OfficeofUT. All these contradictions – only common thread “dynasty”. Congs grand vision is – return of the dynasts.”

Others who have shared the clip include verified Twitter blue users Saran Shanmugam, @Shibin_twitz, and Megh Updates.

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Fact Check

We took a close look at the viral clip and noticed an abrupt cut at the 0:05-second mark. Below we have added a screen recording which will help readers spot the cut in the clip.

On performing a keyword search on YouTube, we came across a 57-minute-long speech by T R Baalu live streamed by ABP Nadu on January 28. The visuals in this video matched the visuals in the viral clip. However, the quality of the live stream was poor.

Taking a cue from this, we looked for other videos and found a two-hour-long live stream by News18 Tamil Nadu. The title of the video can be translated as, ‘Conference to urge implementation of Setu Sea Canal Project’. The relevant portion of T R Baalu’s speech begins at the 49:45-minute mark.

The DMK leader says that he had demolished 100-year-old temples and mosques for the construction of a four-lane highway in West Bengal. Baalu was then the Union minister for highways in the United Progressive Alliance government.

He says that at that time the Communist leader, Jyoti Basu and other MPs/MLAs tried to stop him as his decision could affect the vote bank and hurt people’s religious sentiments. Jyoti Basu asked him if he was sure of carrying out the demolition and also asked him to go and speak with MPs who were upset with his decision.

“I went to them and told them directly that in my hometown, in my constituency, I had to demolish a Saraswati temple, a Lakshmi temple and a Parvati temple. I knew that the votes wouldn’t come. But I also knew how to get them. So when the comrades said that I wouldn’t get votes, I told them there was no other way and, since all they wanted was a temple, I’d construct a better, more beautiful temple with a place for at least 250 people to eat. After demolishing the structures, I built new ones,” Baalu said.

He then states that he invited pujaris and offered them bouquets, gave a presentation lasting over an hour, and they later accepted his proposal. He adds that verification of these details is possible for anyone who wishes to do so.

The DMK leader also adds that he has built infrastructures over holy rivers and it was done by breaking things only, but no one’s religious sentiments were hurt at that time. He says that “it is good to worship all water bodies, call them “thaai” (mother) but do not colour any of this by religion.”

To sum it up, a speech by DMK MP T R Baalu where he talks about convincing various leaders that it is necessary to demolish certain religious structures for government projects was clipped and shared on social media as a video of the leader boasting about demolishing 100-year-old Hindu religious structures.

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