Pawan Kalyan: Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan has joined the controversy surrounding Thirupparankundram in Tamil Nadu. Kalyan also stressed his long pending demand for a Sanatana Dharma Raksha Board in the country.
What Did Pawan Kalyan Say?
Pawan Kalyan said the sacred Karthigai Deepam was ‘stolen’ despite the High Court ruling twice in the favour of the Karthigai Deepam atop the Thirupparankundram. Kalyan added that it is always the Hindus who are expected to compromise, whether it’s by the executive, the governments, or the courts.
In the past, the Jana Sena party founder had slammed “fake secularists” for targeting the Hindu faith in the name of freedom of expression. Kalyan had remarked the so-called secularists don’t question other religions in India but always criticize Hindu practices.
The Current Issue And Prohibitory Orders
Rama Ravikumar, a well-known Hindu activist, moved the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court seeking an order to light the fire on Karthigai Deepam atop the Thirupparankundram instead of the Deepa Mandapam that has been the tradition for a century. The Judge allowed it but HR&CE officials lit the fire at the Uchipillaiyar temple as per the tradition at 6 pm.
BJP alleged that Tamil Nadu police arrested devotees and its state unit President who were just following the orders of the Madras High Court. An attempt was made again and Tamil Nadu police stopped the devotees from proceedings, citing public order.
What is the Thirupparankundram controversy?
Thirupparankundram, which is first of the six abobes of Lord Murugan across Tamil Nadu, is based in Madurai. Thirupparankundram hills hosts the Subramaniya Swamy temple, Kasi Viswanathan temple, and Sikkander Badusha dargah.
In February this year, few Muslim organizations demanded a name change of the hillock as it was also home to a dargah. BJP leader H Raja stoked religious passions by calling Thirupparankundram as the “Ayodhya of South.”
The February row started after photographs of people allegedly consuming meat at the hillock surfaced. The DMK government has been accused by the BJP of supporting the hillock renaming.
