‘TN Hindu Religious department crossing limits’: BJP leader K Annamalai on Chidambaram temple row

“It’s a known fact that devotees will not be allowed to enter Kanagasabai medai (sacred stage) for four days during the Aani Thirumanjanam, (an annual temple festival) and HR and CE, trying to control the temple, which doesn’t fall under their ambit, is an act of disrespecting not just the devotees but also the Madras High Court and Supreme Court. The government officials, the minister, should remember that,” Annamalai said.

Citing various judiciary orders that were passed in the previous years, Annamalai contended that only Dhikshitars have the rights to the administration of the temple and alleged that under Section 107 of Tamil Nadu HR and CE Act, 1959, in the temples administered by denotified communities, the state government has no rights of administration.

He said earlier when the HR and CE sought to verify the jewellery in the temple, the Podhu Dhikshitars agreed to it and after the officials verified everything and could not find any flaws, the ruling DMK government is doing everything possible to create some issue in the temple.

“Strict action should be initiated against officials who entered and were involved in the administrative affairs of the temple which doesn’t fall under HR and CE’s administrative jurisdiction,” Annamalai said.

He further noted that the DMK serves as “a den for people who spread atheism and abuse Hindu deities and if the party doesn’t stop involving further in the administrative affairs of the Chidambaram temple, there will be consequences”.

Notably, a controversy broke out after the Podhu Dhikshitars, who look after the administration of the temple, placed a board announcing that devotees will not be allowed to the sacred stage for four days in view of Aani Thirumanajanam. However, devotees and the HR and CE officials objected to this.

Despite various rounds of talks by the HR and CE officials and police personnel, the Dhikshitars refused to allow the devotees. The board was eventually removed by the officials amid stiff resistance from the Dhikshitars. On behalf of the HR and CE department, a complaint was filed at the Chidambaram police station for preventing a public servant from discharging duties and as many as 11 priests were booked in connection to the incident.

On Tuesday evening, some of the officials of HR and CE along with the assistance from the police, climbed atop Kanagasabai along with a few devotees and offered their prayers to Lord Natarajar. The CCTV footage of the incident was shared widely on social media. The Dhikshitars met the media the same day and claimed that one of their members was pushed aside by the officials when he prevented them and said they will move court against the issue.

HR and CE Minsiter Sekar Babu had lashed out at the Dhikshitars and said they are acting like power centres in the temple and the government will take measures possible to bring the temple under the HR and CE department.

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