Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai has put off his proposed visit to the Subramania Swamy temple and the Sikkandar Dargah in Tirupparankundram.
The Congress leader told The Hindu on Sunday that he heeded a “request” from Chief Minister M.K. Stalin “through HR&CE Minister P.K. Sekarbabu” not to visit Tirupparankundram now. “On account of Thai Poosam and the special arrangements being made there, I was requested to postpone the visit. Our allies will join me on a later date to offer prayers [at Tirupparankundram],” he said.
A controversy had recently erupted in the temple town with certain Hindu outfits objecting to attempts by a section of Muslims to perform ‘kandorri’ (animal sacrifice) at the dargah.
Sources in the All India Congress Committee said the party high command, too, felt it was probably in the best interest of the alliance to let the State government handle the situation, and that making a counter-move could end up exacerbating the issue.
Meanwhile, in a joint statement, leaders of the DMK’s allies have blamed certain outfits for sowing seeds of religious intolerance for political gain in the State. They pointed out that Tamil Nadu had a history of religious harmony.
“Right wing groups such as the RSS, the BJP and the Vishva Hindu Parishad are systematically trying to divide people on religious lines. They are continuously trying to create a discord by creating issues in religious places of worship such as Babri Masjid, Ajmer Dargah. During the [erstwhile] AIADMK’s rule, small right wing organisations began popping up across Tamil Nadu. They are now active due to the election [slated for] next year..,” the statement, signed by INDIA bloc leaders in Tamil Nadu, read.
They further said: “Focussing on Tirupparankundram near Madurai, the BJP and the Sangh Parivar groups are trying to implement their plan. At the base of hillock lies Subramania Swamy temple; on the hillock’s south side lies Kasi Viswanathar temple; and at the lower end, Uchipillaiyar temple. Two thousand years ago, there was Samanam religion (Jainism). On the one side of the hillock, the Sikkandar Dargah is situated, and people have been worshipping at these places without any issue.”
The leaders accused the RSS and the BJP of trying to spread misinformation that the Subramania Swamy temple was in danger. “Every political party had appealed to the district administration to take action against religious extremists, and the district administration took adequate measures. We like to appreciate the people of Tirupparankundram and Madurai district for upholding public peace and unity. The people should be firm in rejecting religious extremists. We assure the people of safeguarding secularism and their right to worship,” the statement said.
