While speaking at a rally in Telangana’s Nizamabad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “In south of India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, the state government is claiming ownership of temples. The State government has grabbed these temples. The wealth of the temples is being swindled through conspiracy. The temples are being looted. The temples are being captured. But they do not lay their hands on places of worship of minorities. They won’t bring them under the policies of the government”.
PM Modi questions Congress in dock over rights of minorities
Taking the Congress party head on, PM Modi said, “The Congress has come up with a new slogan. They say ‘Greater Population, Greater Rights’. If that is your mantra, if that is your principle, then will your allies capture the places of worship of minorities? Will they grab it? Will they use properties owned by them for public welfare? They won’t! I will ask another question to the Congress. You give this slogan. The Congress and its allies, particularly in Tamil Nadu (DMK)… The Hindu temples that is being captured and looted.. The same thing is happening across southern states. When you say ‘Greater Population, Greater Rights’, will you give back the rights of these temples to the Hindus? Answer this! Don’t give false promises. Don’t cheat people and play with their lives. The Congress should explain its stance on this matter to the coalition parties. The Congress and its allies who rule Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and Karnataka, they will have to give clear answers“.
Temple right activists and devotees hail PM Modi’s comment
PM ’s comments have received accolades from the temple rights activists and from the devotees of the state. Temple activist TR Ramesh said in a tweet that Hindus know that the Prime Minister himself has expressed his views on the matter, one can now hope that the Central government will ensure that the Hindus get the right to own and administer temples.
He tweeted on X “ Breaking News in Tamil Channel – Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji accuses Tamil Nadu Government ( @tnhrcedept) of illegally occupying Hindu Temples in the State and misusing its properties and funds. Finally – Hindus can now hope that the Central Govt will soon ensure through legislation that Hindu Citizens of Bharat will no more be denied their fundamental right to administer their temples and charities”.
https://x.com/OurTemples/status/1709219705842479441?s=20
Another temple rights’ activist tweeted on X , “Finally. I was waiting for this for a long time. So @PMOIndia knows. To start with let him pass a bill to release the 2400 acres that Central government holds and pays Rs 2 per acre per annum for the lands belonging to Sri Vedapureeswarar Temple, Vedaranyam and set an example. A fair rent on current market rate would be a step 1. Now that this is said, what legal step is @BJP4Tamil and @BJP4India going to take to drive this encroacher away!?
https://x.com/OurTemples/status/1709219705842479441?s=20
The successive Dravidian government that has been ruling the state since early 70s, has been keen on looting the temple wealth, alienating its properties other avowed than intended purposes, appointing non Brahmin priests in temples agamas, restricting festivals by imposing impossible conditions, interfering with temple administration and tradition followed by the temple with an intention of diluting it help the proliferation of Abrahamic religions.
On Tuesday, representatives led by Nacchiayappan –state president , S Vinod Ragavendran , state secretary of BJP’s spiritual and temple development wing met the Joint Commissioner of HR and CE Mullai objecting the lightening speed of appointing a Fit Person to manage the famous Kaalikaambal temple ( Where Marata king Samrat Shivaji worshipped ) . This led to a verbal war between them.
According to Vinod Raghavendran “ we went merely to register our opposition for the urgent appointment of an appropriate person. They were waiting till September 30, the term of the Temple trustees board to expire and made this appointment. They should allow the existing temple trustees’ board to continue till the new office bearers are elected after elections. Secondly they appointed Vadapalani temple Executive officer , Deputy Commissioner Hariharan ( who is yet to receive order for his appointment in Vadapalani temple) to Kaalikambal temple. It also reveals the ulterior intention of the government and it is keenness in acquiring the control of the temple which is generating good amount of wealth”.
He said that based on the complaint they have been booked and cases have been foisted. They kept them till 8.30 pm (they were detained in the morning about 9 am). They have not protested, agitated only met the JC to register their complaints but are being booked”.
BJP Tamil Nadu President K Annamalai shared a snippet of PM’s speech and lashed out at the DMK government which had remanded BJP Tamil Nadu State President of Spiritual and Temple Development Wing for questioning the illegal practices of the HR&CE department.
Tamil Nadu Government is misusing its police machinery to stifle the voice of opposition. It has been on the spree of making midnight arrests of social media activists, BJP and Sangh parivar cadres for posts critical of government or its leaders more particularly CM MK Stalin, his son Udhaynidhi Stalin and their family members.
“During the two nad half years of DMK rule, nearly 250 Hindu temples have been razed on the ground of encroaching public and water bodies. It has no guts to undertake demolition drive on churches, mosques despite the court orders. The appointment of non Brahmin priests, interfering with temple rituals, mis-appropriation of temple funds are being done with motive – People should lose interest in spirituality, temple worship” says Arumuga Kani of VHP.
