Madurai police have filed a case against BJP leader H Raja for allegedly making an inciting speech during the Thiruparankundram protest. The DMK accused the BJP of trying to stir up riots.
The case was registered after police reviewed footage of the protest, which had been recorded under strict court guidelines. H Raja is charged with hate speech under four sections.
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister PK Sekar Babu warned that any violence would be dealt with firmly by Chief Minister MK Stalin. Babu claimed the protest in Madurai on February 4 was led by BJP members, not Hindu groups, and was intended to cause trouble for the DMK government.
He said the BJP was trying to incite riots, similar to what they do in northern states, but Tamil Nadu would not allow it. He dismissed the protest as a "non-issue" and accused the BJP of seeking political gain.
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Babu referred to court cases dating back to British rule and two more recent cases from 2023 and 2025, stating the government would follow the court’s decisions. He emphasised that the government was for all people and would inspect the Thiruparankundram hill soon.
Law Minister S Regupathy added that Tamil Nadu has a history of peaceful coexistence between Hindus and Muslims and accused some groups of trying to create unrest. He assured that these efforts would be stopped.
BJP Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai, however, rejected the accusations and claimed the protest was peaceful. He asked if there had been any violence or damage to property, stating there was no trouble at the protest. He also accused the DMK of "appeasement politics" and opposed the alleged consumption of non-vegetarian food at the hill.
Also Read: DMK accuses BJP of attempting to stoke Thirupparankundram violence
Annamalai further claimed that BJP leaders and workers were placed under house arrest in nearly 350 locations across Tamil Nadu to stop them from attending the protest. He also referenced the 1931 Privy Council ruling in favor of the temple and asked Sekar Babu to read the judgment.
Madurai District Collector MS Sangeetha said efforts were being made to maintain peace in Thiruparankundram. She pointed out that while local residents lived peacefully, outside groups from both Hindu and Muslim sides were trying to disrupt the peace.
The collector also mentioned a peace meeting on January 30, where local party members, except for AIADMK representatives, agreed to continue worship practices without outside interference.
Requests for animal sacrifice at the Muslim place of worship on the hill were twice rejected by authorities. In December 2024, five people trying to conduct the ritual were stopped. The mosque management also rejected a legal proposal to resolve the issue in a meeting held after the December incident.
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