Matribhumi Samachar English
Another blatant instance of minority appeasement and alleged persecution of Hindus has surfaced in Thiruparankundram, where the DMK government disallowed Hindu devotees from lighting a lamp at the ancient stone pillar atop the hill, despite orders from both the High Court single bench and division bench.
Now, devotees are not allowed to visit the Kasi Viswanathar Temple atop the hill, while Muslims have been allowed to hoist a green flag to mark the beginning of their Santhanakoodu (sandalwood) festival on December 22.
BJP leader H Raja accused the DMK government of enforcing discriminatory religious restrictions at Thiruparankundram, alleging that Hindus had been barred from worship at the Kasi Viswanathar Temple for over 20 days, while Muslims were granted unrestricted access to the Sikandar Dargah to conduct the Santhanakoodu festival under full police protection.
He questioned the police and district administration on the legality and intent behind the restrictions. The BJP leader asked whether a Chief Minister CM Stalin could claim to represent Hindus if Hindus were prevented from lighting lamps or praying at their own religious sites.
He alleged that the Madurai district administration and city police had deliberately created what he described as “an unnecessary and provocative situation”. Raja stated that he was familiar with Madurai and recalled visiting and worshipping at the Kasi Viswanathar Temple on 29 January 2025.
#WATCH | Madurai, Tamil Nadu | The flag-hoisting ceremony for the Santhanakoodu festival was held at the Sikandar Dargah at the Thiruparankundram hill. pic.twitter.com/TnETINM56Q
— ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2025
He questioned why, if Kandhuri or Santhanakoodu celebrations were permitted at the Dargah, he and other Hindu devotees were being stopped from visiting the Kasi Viswanathar Temple. He emphasised that he was not seeking any special privilege but was only asserting his right to worship, noting that animal sacrifice had already been prohibited by court order and was not part of his demand. For these questions, the police had no proper or convincing replies.
Raja added that preventing Hindus from worship amounted to overt anti-Hindu conduct and argued that no religion had historically been stopped from practising its rituals by the police. Referring to past legal and historical disputes, he claimed that exclusions and settlements had already been addressed through law and that his present demand was entirely lawful.
“What irked and enraged Hindu devotees is the blatant act of the DMK police allowing Muslims to hoist the flag at the controversial site. The DMK government has been claiming that allowing Hindus to light a lamp atop the pillar would endanger tranquillity, peace and communal harmony and pave the way for communal clashes. Can flag-hoisting, while disallowing Hindus from visiting the Kasi Viswanathar Temple, not foment communal clashes?” critics asked.
Madurai City Joint Police Commissioner Inigo Divyan was present at the location, overseeing extensive security arrangements, when H Raja engaged in arguments with police officers. Protesters demanded the immediate release of those arrested and insisted that Hindus must be granted the same access to the hilltop temple that Muslims were receiving for Dargah-related rituals.
With around 200 people remaining at the site, discussions with police continued amid a tense atmosphere.
Raja claimed in a video circulating on social media: “Whether it is Udhayanidhi, or ‘some Nidhi’, or ‘useless Nidhi’—whoever it is, I am saying this openly. He has apparently spoken as if Murugan and Stalin are the same. Be careful. The same Udhayanidhi who said he would destroy Hinduism like dengue and malaria, mosquitoes—that anti-Hindu Udhayanidhi is the real problem.
Why? Because what did he say? ‘I am a proud Christian.’ You be a proud Christian, why deny Raja to be a proud Hindu? Because of this, Udhayanidhi has become the biggest stumbling block for the Stalin government. It is Udhayanidhi—his openly anti-Hindu, incendiary speeches—that are the reason. Because of that, I am respectfully requesting the Honourable Chief Minister not to let this go too far.”
Meanwhile, the DMK–Congress ally Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) has announced a protest in Madurai today (December 22), alleging that right-wing organisations are attempting to foment communal tensions in Thiruparankundram.
In a statement, VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan said the protest was intended to safeguard communal harmony in the region and that it was the responsibility of democratic forces to preserve the peaceful atmosphere in Thiruparankundram.
The VCK MP said the protest was to prevent what he described as attempts by divisive and “Sanatana” forces to disturb communal harmony.
Meanwhile, police detained thousands of Hindu Munnani cadres who tried to light Moksha Deepam and booked them under various sections of law.
One Hindu Munnani functionary from Pollachi, Balachandran, who is facing over two dozen cases filed by the DMK government, said they were able to light Moksha Deepam at Valparai, Madukkarai, Malaiyanpattinam, Anaimalai, Pollachi and a few more places.
However, police registered a case for lighting Moksha Deepam at the Pollachi Subramani Swamy Temple.
Speaking to Organiser, he said, “After 30 minutes of our lighting the lamp and leaving the place, police registered an FIR against us based on video footage.
“Do we not have the right under Article 25 to light a lamp and worship as enshrined in the Constitution? Are we being ruled by an Aurangzeb regime? The government allows Muslim festivals at the hill but not Hindus to do so.
“DMK leaders never wish or greet Hindus on their festivals but attend and proclaim that theirs is the best. What sort of secularism is this? It is nothing but rank minority appeasement.
“It is a pity that, barring one or two, no media houses took the pain to highlight our rights under Article 25.”
Former senior Idol Wing IG Pon Manickavel, on December 21, told the media in Madurai, while commenting on public outcry over the self-immolation of Poornachandran, that for the last two or three days he had been in Madurai and had visited every place connected to the incident before speaking.
He said he had spoken to Poornachandran’s mother, father and wife, listened to audio recordings provided by them, and seen the children and other family members.
Responding to a question, the former IPS officer said, “This is an altruistic suicide, the first of its kind in Tamil Nadu. He has given up his life for a social cause.”
He added, “If a judge passes an order, I will obey it. High Court orders must be respected. A police officer who disrespects judicial orders is not fit to be a police officer.
“I assure you 100 per cent that I will write an email to the Chief Minister stating that I am a servant of the law, not a servant of the government, and that every police officer must remember this, as long as oral instructions are extra-legal.”
The political observers say that allowing Muslims to conduct Santhanakoodu celebrations at Thiruparankundram is a clear indication to minorities, especially Muslims, in Tamil Nadu that the DMK will do everything, not just as a party but also by using government machinery to address Muslim demands, irrespective of Hindu criticism, particularly with upcoming 2026 Assemby elections in mind.
They say this is a clear signal that the DMK is ready to insult or ignore the demands of Bhagwan Murugan devotees. For the past two years, critics allege that the DMK has openly heeded Muslim demands, from allowing non-vegetarian food to stopping Hindus and creating hurdles that ignore Hindu rituals and festivals.
They describe this as a clever and calculated vote-bank politics centred around Thiruparankundram. They argue that the DMK going beyond government machinery and even initiating steps such as an impeachment motion against a judge indicates that Muslim votes matter more than Hindu sentiments.
They further state that this could be a direct signal not only from the DMK but from the entire INDI alliance, as none of the DMK allies have responded critically to these developments and are firmly standing with Muslim demands.
Credit : Organiser Weekly
