CHENNAI, June 1 -- A political row erupted in Tamil Nadu on Sunday over the Lok Bhavan's portrayal of famous Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar clad in saffron attire garnering criticism from the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its ally Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK). At an event on Saturday, state governor Rajendra Arlekar paid floral tributes to the picture of Thiruvalluvar seen in saffron attire contrary to the original image of the poet clad in white robe. DMK's youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin claimed that the governor was testing the self-respect of Tamils all over again with his act. "During the DMK regime, when the then governor (RN Ravi) attempted a similar stunt, we condemned it harshly. Now, they are testing the self-respect of Tamils all over again," he said in a post on X. Meanwhile, TVK said confining Thiruvalluvar within a narrow circle or a specific identity is equivalent to demeaning his global ideals. "Draping Thiruvalluvar in saffron attire at Lok Bhavan is wrong...," TVK's propaganda general secretary and minister for health Arunraj said. In response, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said: "It (saffron) is a symbol of purity, the embodiment of our culture, an emblem of sacrifice and proof of valour." "Saffron is our nation. Thiruvalluvar too is saffron," he said.htc...