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Journalism of Courage
AS THE RAM Temple consecration was being held in Ayodhya Monday, the Tamil Nadu government found itself facing allegations at home and in courts over alleged attempts to stop devotees from celebrating the event.
Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman led the allegations, and Governor R N Ravi took up the matter, talking of a “pervasive sense of fear”, even as the state government denied having issued any such order.
The M K Stalin-led DMK government also threatened legal action against a prominent Tamil daily that reported Sunday that it had banned special pujas and live telecasts of the Ayodhya event.
Reacting to this report, Sitharaman first attacked the DMK government, slamming its “anti-Hindu, hateful action”. “In TN there are over 200 temples for Shri Ram. In HR&CE managed temples, no puja, bhajan, prasadam, annadanam in the name of Shri Ram is allowed. Police are stopping privately held temples from organizing events. They are threatening organizers,” she tweeted.
HR& CE is the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department that manages temples in Tamil Nadu.
Soon after the Union minister’s tweet, HR&CE Minister P K Sekarbabu said no limitations had been imposed on devotees’ freedom to offer food, conduct pujas, or distribute prasad in state temples.
However, Sitharaman repeated her allegations on Monday. “The repression saga in Tamil Nadu continues,” she tweeted, alleging that a small village in Chengalpattu district had been prevented from celebrating the event and that LED operators planning to telecast it had been threatened.
She seemed to be referring to the removal of LED panels from Kamakshi Amman temple in Kanchipuram, which officials and police attributed to permission issues.
Visiting Sri Kodandaramaswami Temple in Chennai Monday, Governor Ravi spoke about a “pervasive sense of invisible fear and apprehensions writ large on the faces of priests and temple staff”, and “a sense of acute repression”. He said this was in “stark contrast to the festive environment in the rest of the country”.
A top official told The Indian Express that “there was absolutely no such ban” anywhere over the Ayodhya events, but that a “standard rule” had been enforced. “We insisted on permission if huge screens were put up for telecasting the Ayodhya event in public places. Similarly, processions without permissions were restricted… Otherwise, we have nothing to do with a temple or mutt organising events on their own premises,” the official said.
The BJP-DMK war of words was also taken up by minister Udhayanidhi Stalin who, in response to a tweet attacking the DMK government, posted an old photo of his wearing a T-shirt saying: “Don’t understand Hindi. Leave.”
Udhayanidhi had earlier stirred a row with his remarks on the Sanatan Dharma, which the BJP had taken up as evidence of the DMK being against Hindu religion. The DMK government has also had a long-running feud with the Governor, while Sitharaman (who has Tamil origins) has lately been leading the BJP offensive against it. Separately, the BJP has been demanding that temples be taken out of state government control.
Courts dragged in
The Supreme Court was approached by a BJP functionary, alleging that the DMK government had “issued oral orders / directions to the police” not to permit prayers, alms distribution or live telecast of the consecration ceremony, in all temples, including private.
After it clarified that it had not issued any such order, the Bench asked the DMK government to record reasons for accepting or rejecting applications seeking permission, and to keep data on the same. “We believe and trust that authorities will act in accordance with law and not on the basis of any oral instructions,” the Court said.
The Court also took objection to the reply of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dindigul Rural Sub Division, regarding an application by the administrators of Sri Bhagavatiyamman Temple to hold special almsgiving to mark the consecration.
The police note said, “The area of A Vellodu village, where you have requested permission to conduct the event, is predominantly inhabited by Christians. Additionally, there are areas with Christian temples. Due to the lower number of Hindu residents in this village, there is a possibility of encountering cultural sensitivities or legal complications related to public peace and morality when organizing events that are perceived as deviating from the prevailing religious practices. Also, public peace is likely to be affected.”
The Court termed the reasons cited by the police as “atrocious”, noting: “If the order at page 21 (of the petition) is to be made applicable across Tamil Nadu, wherever there are minorities, they will never be able to hold a prayer meeting… You regulate it, you have the power. You have the power to pass orders regulating all these processions. But this reason is atrocious… what is stated in the order alone can’t be the reason. We want to know the reason. If this is the reason going to be given, you will be in trouble.”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Court that he was told that some police stations had passed written orders and added that a message must go from the highest constitutional court that what was happening is not acceptable.
The Madras High Court separately saw a special sitting around 9.30 am, to hear an “urgent” petition. After the government’s clarification, the court ordered that events be conducted responsibly and without causing any disturbance.
