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{{Infobox Indian political party
| party_name = Hindu Munnani
| logo = [[File:Hindu_munnani_logo.jpg|250px|Symbol of Hindu Munnani.]]
| founder = Ramagopalan, [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS)
| foundation = 1980
| split = [[Hindu Makkal Katchi]]
| ideology = [[Hindutva]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.hindumunnani.org/}}
}}
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{{Islamophobia}}
'''Hindu Munnani''' is a [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] [[Hindu nationalism|Hindu nationalist]] organisation based in the [[Indian state]] of [[Tamil Nadu]]. Hindu Munnani was set up by [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS)<ref name="Parvathy AA" /> The organisation was founded in 1980 by [[Ramagopalan]], a member of [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]] and since its formation served as the platform for RSS and its subsidiaries known as the [[Sangh Parivar]].<ref name="Parvathy AA">{{cite book |last1=Parvathy |first1=A. A. |title=Hindutva, Ideology, and Politics |publisher=Deep & Deep Publications |isbn=978-81-7629-450-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RpaEt8npT0sC&dq=Hindu+Makkal+Katchi+rss&pg=PA211 |access-date=20 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

The organisation promoted a Hindu [[Communal violence|communal]] identity and used it as a [[Mass mobilization|political mobilisation]] strategy. The [[AIADMK]] government in the 1990s was in alliance with the Hindutva aligned [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] which enabled Hindu Munnani in organizing [[Vinayaka Chathurthi]] processions in major cities of [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref name="Parvathy AA" /> The state government's support of [[Rama Gopalan]]'s activity made him a follower of [[Jayalalitha]]. Due to the proximity, a faction of the group broke away and found another group named [[Hindu Makkal Katchi]] in 1993. The [[militant]]s of the Hindu Munnani used ''vituperative'' and [[Islamophobia|abusive]] language against the Muslims. The provocative speeches against [[Islam]] and [[Muhammad|Prophet Muhammad]] polarized the social atmosphere of the region. Their [[Islamophobia|anti-Muslim]] speeches and activities led to formation of Muslim group [[Al Umma]].<ref name="Parvathy AA" />

The activities of [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|R.S.S]]., Hindu Munnani and [[Hindu Makkal Katchi]] continued uninterrupted under Jayalalitha. The [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] alliance with AIADMK led to further spread of RSS ideology in Tamil Nadu. These organisations used [[religious festival]]s to combine their strength and caused [[riot]]s.<ref name="Parvathy AA" />

==Activities==
The Hindu Munnani first gained public awareness in 1982 when it began to [[Incitement to ethnic or racial hatred|incite]] the [[Hindus|Hindu]] population of [[Ramanathapuram district]] against the [[1981 Meenakshipuram conversion|Meenakshipuram conversions]] by Ishaatul Islam Sabha of South India.<ref name="rajamohan">{{Cite web|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/faultlines/volume16/Article5.htm|title=Tamil Nadu: The Rise of Islamist Fundamentalism |access-date=16 June 2008|publisher=Faultlines|author=P. G. Rajamohan}}</ref><ref name="katju">{{cite book | title=Vishva Hindu Parishad and Indian Politics | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b70nKb-8YuMC&pg=PA34| last=Katju| first=Manjari| year=2003| pages=34| publisher=Orient Longman | isbn=978-81-250-2476-7}}</ref>

However, the most remarkable achievement of the Hindu Munnani was the organisation of [[Vinayaka Chathurthi]] processions in Tamil Nadu.<ref name="Chathurthi">{{cite news|last = Hoskote|first = Ranjit|title = From pedestal to pavement|work = The Hindu: Magazine|date = 12 September 2004}}</ref><ref name="chathurthi2">{{cite journal|author=C. J. Fuller |author-link=Chris Fuller (academic) |title=The 'Vinayaka Chaturthi' Festival and Hindutva in Tamil Nadu |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |year=2001 |volume=43 |issue=24 |url=http://www.epw.org.in/epw/uploads/articles/5410.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318163700/http://www.epw.org.in/epw/uploads/articles/5410.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 March 2009 }}</ref><ref name="chathurthi3">{{cite book | title=The Renewal of the Priesthood| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GEFuDcK7i44C&q=vinayaga+chathurthi+hindu+munnani&pg=PA132| last=Fuller| first=C. J.| year=2003| pages=132| publisher=Princeton University Press| isbn=978-0-691-11657-0}}</ref><ref name="chathurthi4">{{cite book | title=The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=To6XSeBUW3oC&q=vinayaga+chathurthi+hindu+munnani&pg=PA266| last=Fuller| first=C. J.| year=2004| pages=265| publisher=Princeton University Press | isbn=978-0-691-12048-5}}</ref> On 16 May 2006, the Hindu Munnani organised the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the installation of the ''shivalinga'' in the Jalakanteswarar temple in [[Vellore]].<ref name="jalakanteswarar">{{cite news|last = Murthi|first = P. V. V.|title = Silver Jubilee |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/03/10/stories/2006031000280300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121195608/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/03/10/stories/2006031000280300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 November 2007 |date = 10 March 2006|work = [[The Hindu]]|access-date = 17 June 2008}}</ref>

The [[Vinayaka Chaturthi|Vinayaga Chathurthi]] celebrations organised by the Hindu Munnani were often accompanied by sporadic incidents of [[communal violence]].<ref name="Vinayaga_Chathurthi_2">{{cite news|title = Hindu Munnani to hold 'satyagraha'|url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/09/28/stories/2004092813870400.htm|work = The Hindu|date = 28 September 2004|access-date = 17 June 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090916075630/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/09/28/stories/2004092813870400.htm|archive-date = 16 September 2009|url-status = usurped}}</ref><ref name="Vinayaga_Chathurthi_3">{{cite news|title=7,000 cops to be kept on toes in city |url=http://newstodaynet.com/11sep/ld4.htm |work=News Today |access-date=17 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819152311/http://newstodaynet.com/11sep/ld4.htm |archive-date=19 August 2007 }}</ref> In 1993, there were bomb attacks made on the R.S.S. state headquarters at [[Chintadripet]], [[Chennai]].<ref name="rajamohan" /> Islamic organisations were found guilty for the blasts and a crackdown was launched on extremist Islamic organisations.<ref name="rajamohan" />

[[1997 Coimbatore riots]] occurred between 29 November 1997 and 1 December 1997 in [[Coimbatore]] triggered by a murder of a police constable [[allegedly]] by some Muslim youth over a dispute of detention of Al-Ummah functionaries by the police.<ref name="Coimbatore Frontline">{{Cite web|title=Confrontation in Coimbatore|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/politics/article30160583.ece|access-date=1 April 2021|website=Frontline|language=en}}</ref> The policemen revolted in response to the murder of the constable and in concert with the members of Hindu Munnani and Hindu Makkal Katchi, attacked Muslims and Muslim-owned properties. Clashes erupted between both the communities and the police reportedly opened fire targeting the Muslims killing '''ten'''. Many Muslim youth were [[beaten]] to death or [[Death by burning|burnt alive]]. Muslim-owned businesses in different parts of the city were [[looted]] and [[arson|burnt]] down. At the end of the riots, 18 Muslims and 2 Hindus lost their lives.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Main News|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070802/main3.htm|access-date=1 April 2021|website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref>

During the visit of [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) leader [[L. K. Advani]] and Indian Prime Minister [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] to Coimbatore in 1998, [[1998 Coimbatore bombings|a series of thirteen blasts rocked the city]], killing over fifty-eight people. The Coimbatore bombings were considered a response to the 1997 Coimbatore riots.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rediff On The NeT Special: Scarred for life|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/1998/nov/27coim.htm|access-date=1 April 2021|website=www.rediff.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=SUBRAMANIAN|first=T. S.|title=Found guilty|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/article30192538.ece|access-date=1 April 2021|website=Frontline|language=en}}</ref>

In 2007, there were clashes between the '''Hindu Munnani''' and the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK) over the remarks made by [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] leader [[Vedanti]] on [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]] President and Chief Minister [[Karunanidhi]].<ref name="karuna">{{cite news
|title='Fatwa' against Karunanidhi: Case registered against Vedanti
|url=http://newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEL20070925062315&Page=H&Title=Top+Stories&Topic=0
|work=The New Indian Express
|access-date=17 June 2008 }}{{dead link|bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> DMK cadres attacked the Hindu Munnani state headquarters in Chennai on motorbikes.<ref name="DMK-BJP faceoff">{{cite news|title = BJP-DMK face off: Hindu Munnani office in Chennai vandalized
|url=http://india.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=126587|work = Merinews|date = 23 September 2007|access-date = 17 June 2008}}</ref>

In September 2017, Six members of Hindu Munnani were arrested in connection with the murder of [[Communist Party of India|CPI]] member K. [[Kanagaraj]] in [[Virudhunagar district]], Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Hindu Munnani cadre among six held in CPI man's murder|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/hindu-munnani-cadre-among-six-held-in-cpi-mans-murder-virudhunagar/article19655621.ece|access-date=21 September 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

In March 2020, Hindu Munnani [[Terrorism|attacked]] a mosque in [[Coimbatore]] during a communal tension.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Thomas|first=Wilson|title=Petrol bomb hurled at Coimbatore mosque|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/petrol-bomb-hurled-at-coimbatore-mosque/article30994690.ece|access-date=21 September 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

=== Murders ===
Thirukovilur Sundaram, In 1981, Hindu Munnani leader, Thirukovilur Sundaram was murdered at R. S. Puram in [[Coimbatore]] by [[Islamic fundamentalism|Islamic fundamentalists]].<ref name="Murder of Hindu Munnani Leader">{{cite news|title = Hindu Munnani leader killed by Islamic fundamentalists|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/arguments-begin-in-blasts-case/article3100049.ece
|work = The Hindu|date = 4 July 2006}}</ref>

S Vellaiappan, He was a senior leader of Hindu Munnani in [[Vellore]]. He was murdered by a gang of 8 people when he was headed towards Ramakrishna Math on his motorbike in July 2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hindu Munnani leader murdered |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Hindu-Munnani-leader-murdered/articleshow/20867216.cms |access-date=20 February 2021 |work=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

K. P. S. Suresh Kumar, He was the president of the Hindu Munnani for Thiruvallur East district. He was originally from Kanyakumari. It is alleged that he was murdered by people from [[Al Ummah]], an Islamic terrorist organisation,<ref>{{Cite web|title = Murders of right-wing leaders in Tamil Nadu linked to terror group Al Mammah|url = http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/murders-of-right-wing-leaders-in-tamil-nadu-linked-to-terror-group-al-ummah/|website = The Indian Express|date = 20 August 2014|access-date = 2 February 2016}}</ref> in June 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hindu Munnani Leader Hacked to Death |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2014/jun/19/Hindu-Munnani-Leader-Hacked-to-Death-626220.html |access-date=20 February 2021 |work=The New Indian Express }}</ref> Three members were detained by the police in August 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|title = 3 suspected Al Ummah men detained for Hindu Munnani leader's murder|url = http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/3-suspected-al-ummah-men-detained-for-hindu-munnani-leaders-murder/|website = The Indian Express|date = 7 August 2014|access-date = 2 February 2016}}</ref>

[[Jeevaraj]], He was Hindu Munnani's [[Tirunelveli]] town secretary. He was murdered by his wife due to illicit [[adulterous]] relationship with other girl in July 2014.<ref name="auto">{{cite news |title=Wife arrested for murder of Hindu Munnani functionary |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Wife-arrested-for-murder-of-Hindu-Munnani-functionary/articleshow/37933849.cms |access-date=20 February 2021 |work=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

C Sasikumar, A member in Coimbatore, A gang chased him on motorcycles and attacked him with sickles. He suffered injuries and died in Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hindu Munnani leader Sasikumar murder case: NIA chargesheet against two PFI members|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/hindu-munnani-leader-sasikumar-murder-case-nia-files-chargesheet-against-two-79205|access-date=21 September 2021|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[P. Thanulinga Nadar]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
* <cite id="rsstn">K. Suryanarayana Rao (2002). ''The Story of R. S. S and Hindu Resurgence in Tamil Nadu''</cite>

==External links==
*[http://hindumunnani.org/ Official Website Of Hindu Munnani]
{{Sangh Parivar}}
{{Hindu Nationalism}}

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Hindu Munnani - Revision history

Mediagroup at 13:08, 25 June 2022