Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Feb 4 (PTI) – A massive protest erupted in Palanganatham on Tuesday evening as thousands of Hindu Munnani members, BJP functionaries, and devotees gathered to voice their sentiments following the Madras High Court's approval for the agitation at the new venue.
Chanting slogans in praise of Lord Murugan, the protesters demanded the reclamation of Thiruparankundram hill, which holds religious significance for Hindus. Some raised slogans asserting that Murugan's devotees would not be deterred by detentions.
Hindu Munnani state president Kadeshwara Subramaniam, along with several activists, was arrested while attempting to march towards Thiruparankundram. The protest was primarily against individuals who had allegedly consumed non-vegetarian food on the sacred hill, sparking outrage among devotees.
Reacting strongly, BJP state chief K Annamalai accused the ruling DMK of imposing a prohibitory order to suppress the protest aimed at safeguarding the sanctity of the Thiruparankundram Arulmigu Subrahmanya Swamy Temple hill. Taking to social media platform X, Annamalai criticized the DMK government for allegedly acting in a discriminatory manner.
"There is a limit to everything. Are there separate rules for a DMK minister and the public? The DMK government should immediately stop supporting unnecessary activities that continue to harass the people," he asserted.
Police confirmed that eight Hindu Munnani activists had been detained as a precautionary measure. The unrest stemmed from recent events where a group of people allegedly consumed non-vegetarian food on the hill, home to the revered Subrahmanya Swamy temple as well as the Sikandar Badusha Dargah.
Kadeshwara Subramaniam, holding a Vel (spear), called the government’s ban order an attack on democratic rights and Hindu sentiments. He warned that if the DMK administration continued to suppress Hindu voices, Hindu Munnani would launch a new freedom struggle from Madurai.
"If the ruling DMK thinks it can silence devotees and democracy by force, then we will defy the ban with the support of Murugan devotees," he declared, accusing the police of falsely implicating individuals.
The protest and subsequent arrests have intensified the political and religious discourse in Tamil Nadu, with opposition voices vowing to challenge the government's stance on religious rights and assembly.
Chanting slogans in praise of Lord Murugan, the protesters demanded the reclamation of Thiruparankundram hill, which holds religious significance for Hindus. Some raised slogans asserting that Murugan's devotees would not be deterred by detentions.
Hindu Munnani state president Kadeshwara Subramaniam, along with several activists, was arrested while attempting to march towards Thiruparankundram. The protest was primarily against individuals who had allegedly consumed non-vegetarian food on the sacred hill, sparking outrage among devotees.
Court Ruling and Political Reactions
Senior BJP leader H Raja highlighted that the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had permitted the Hindu Munnani protest, directing police to release detained members of both Hindu Munnani and BJP. However, the court had restricted the protest venue to Palanganatham, between 5 and 6 pm, instead of Thiruparankundram.Reacting strongly, BJP state chief K Annamalai accused the ruling DMK of imposing a prohibitory order to suppress the protest aimed at safeguarding the sanctity of the Thiruparankundram Arulmigu Subrahmanya Swamy Temple hill. Taking to social media platform X, Annamalai criticized the DMK government for allegedly acting in a discriminatory manner.
"There is a limit to everything. Are there separate rules for a DMK minister and the public? The DMK government should immediately stop supporting unnecessary activities that continue to harass the people," he asserted.
Heavy Security Deployment in Thiruparankundram
Earlier in the day, the Thiruparankundram hill town had been turned into a virtual fortress, with over 4,000 police personnel, including officers from ten districts, deployed in the area following the prohibitory orders issued by the Madurai district administration.Police confirmed that eight Hindu Munnani activists had been detained as a precautionary measure. The unrest stemmed from recent events where a group of people allegedly consumed non-vegetarian food on the hill, home to the revered Subrahmanya Swamy temple as well as the Sikandar Badusha Dargah.
Leaders Condemn Arrests, Call for Hindu Rights Movement
H Raja condemned the arrests, drawing a parallel between the Tamil Nadu police’s actions against Hindu activists and their response to national agencies arresting terrorists hiding in the state. "This situation will change one day," he remarked.Kadeshwara Subramaniam, holding a Vel (spear), called the government’s ban order an attack on democratic rights and Hindu sentiments. He warned that if the DMK administration continued to suppress Hindu voices, Hindu Munnani would launch a new freedom struggle from Madurai.
"If the ruling DMK thinks it can silence devotees and democracy by force, then we will defy the ban with the support of Murugan devotees," he declared, accusing the police of falsely implicating individuals.
The protest and subsequent arrests have intensified the political and religious discourse in Tamil Nadu, with opposition voices vowing to challenge the government's stance on religious rights and assembly.
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