Looks like the Dravidian parties, especially the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), are worried over the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun promoting Tamil and its popular literary giants, especially abroad.

During his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Modi had quoted ancient Tamil poet, Kaniyan Poonkundranar’s verses from Purananuru that was written 3,000 years ago. (Purananuru is a compilation of 400 poems that talks of how a king should treat his citizens.)

Dwelling on universal brotherhood, the Prime Minister said: “Yaadum Oorae, Yaavarum Kelir (To us all towns are our own, everyone our kin)” to underline the fact that the universe belongs to all of us.

He also made it a point to mention that Tamil is the oldest living language in the world.

Modi reiterated Tamil language’s status at the oldest again at an IIT-Madras event on 30 September this year. This was followed by the Sino-Indian summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the historic venue of Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu.

Modi has continued this theme with his current visit to Thailand too, where he released the Thai translation of Thirukkural written by Tamil saint-poet, Thiruvalluvar. Thirukkural is a classic literary work containing 1,330 couplets that dwell on the virtues of human life.

At the book-release event, the Prime Minister said that the Thirukkural was not just a book but a guiding light that was written 2,500 years ago.

Modi also quoted the 212th Kural (verse) “Thaalaatrith Thandha Porulellaam Thakkaarkku Vaelanmai Seydhar Poruttu”. (All the wealth acquired with perseverance by the worthy is for the exercise of benevolence.)

The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made use of this opportunity to put out a tweet with Thiruvalluvar wearing a saffron dhoti and sporting ash marks on his body.