Stalin's 'Secular Dravidian Pongal' Ignites BJP Fury

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin called Pongal a symbol of "secular Dravidian identity," urging DMK cadres to celebrate it as a harvest festival free from religious rituals. This sparked a fierce political row with BJP and AIADMK accusing the DMK of diluting the festival's Hindu traditions ahead of 2026 Assembly elections.