Chennai, Oct 17 Tamil Nadu BJP on Saturday condemned ministers S Ramesh and Aadhav Arjuna for facilitating the entry of a non-Hindu aide wearing a skull cap into the renowned Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai today allegedly contravening temple rules and judicial mandates.
Terming it a “clear violation” of the Madras High Court’s January 2024 order prohibiting non-Hindus from proceeding beyond the flagmast of the temple without a recorded undertaking of faith in the deity and adherence to Hindu customs, BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy claimed the act also disregarded the temple’s established dress code and sanctity.
“Temples under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department are places of Hindu worship, not venues for political or official disregard of agama rules, court directions, and devotee sentiments. The intervention by the HR&CE Minister to suppress objections from devotees further shows an unwillingness to uphold the very rules the department is meant to enforce,” Thirupathy said on X.
“Such conduct undermines the legal and traditional framework protecting Hindu temples and sets a dangerous precedent. I demand that both ministers issue an immediate public apology, ensure strict compliance with the High Court order at all HR & CE temples, and take steps so that similar violations do not recur. The sanctity of places of worship must be respected without exception,” he said.
In the video that went viral, a devotee could be heard asking the HR and CE Minister the basis for allowing a man wearing a skull cap to enter the historic temple premises.
(PTI News)
