The war of words over the Thiruparankundram temple issue has reached a boiling point, with Bharatiya Janata Party leader K Annamalai launching a stinging attack on Tamil Nadu Minister Regupathy. Annamalai accused the Dravida Munnatra Kazhagam government of harboring a deep-seated "anti-Hindu bias" following the Minister’s controversial reaction to a recent Madras High Court ruling.
The friction stems from the court’s decision to uphold an order allowing the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp atop the Thiruparankundram hill— a move the state government had been fighting. Speaking on the verdict, Minister Regupathy didn't hold back, arguing that new customs shouldn't be forced where they haven't existed. "A dead body can be cremated only at a crematorium. Can it be cremated elsewhere?" the Minister asked, suggesting that the court’s judgment was attempting to create confusion by altering long-standing local practices.
Annamalai quickly seized on these comments, particularly the cremation analogy, calling it an insult to centuries-old spiritual traditions. Taking to social media late Monday night, the former state BJP chief claimed that the DMK leadership, from the Chief Minister down to the cabinet, has made a habit of mocking Hindu worship rights. He further alleged that by questioning the verdict, the DMK was effectively insulting the judiciary because the court had exposed the party's attempts to create communal divisions.
"The people of Tamil Nadu will soon teach a lesson to those in the DMK who mock our culture," Annamalai said, framing the legal fight as part of a broader struggle for religious freedom. Though the Minister argues that he is only trying to preserve "Tamil heritage" from being disturbed by new demands, the BJP is latching onto the incident to mobilise its base, portraying the state's opposition to the lamp-lighting as an attack on the sentiments of the majority community.
Also read: Amit Shah attends BJP's Pongal celebrations in Tamil Nadu
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