Hindu Munnani has successfully stopped the foundation stone-laying ceremony for a mosque on Government-owned land in Thirukovilur, Kallakurichi district.
Hindu Munnani has been at the forefront of addressing issues such as proselytisation, love jihad, illegal places of worship in residential areas, protection of temple lands, and the demolition of Hindu temples. It has also been vocal about malpractices in temples managed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR and CE) Department, advocating for their release from Government control.
Taking to the social media handle X, Hindu Munnani said, “We have submitted a petition stating that the land in question, identified as Thirukovilur North Re. No. 532 and covering 0.23 acres, is officially designated as Government’ poramboke’ land. The petition noted that the Thirukovilur Masjid Waqf organisation had issued an invitation for a foundation stone ceremony for the Arcot Nawab Jamia Masjid in this area.”
In that statement, it said, “this land is traditionally used for Hindu cremation and such ceremonies and expressed concerns that the situation could lead to public disorder. It also alleged that the mosque’s organisers had not obtained the necessary permissions from the Government for the construction”. Muslims have distributed handbills announcing the earth-breaking ceremony for the mosque and namaz at the proposed site three days before the event. The mosque is to be built at the Arcot Nawab Jamia Mosque compound.
It announced that it would hold protection to halt the proposed cornerstone laying ceremony or earth-breaking ceremony at the disputed site.
District Collector Maria Pillai led a negotiation session on August 8, 2024 with them. The session aimed to address objections raised by the revenue and police departments regarding the planned foundation stone ceremony. Following these parlays, the District Collector ordered police protection for the site and denied permission for the ceremony.
கள்ளக்குறிச்சி மாவட்டம், திருக்கோவிலூர் நகரத்தில், இஸ்லாமியர்கள்
திடீரென்று 3 நாட்களாக இந்துக்கள் சுடுகாட்டின் அருகில் தொழுகை மற்றும் மசூதி கட்டுவதற்கு அடிக்கல் நாட்டு விழா நடைபெறுவதாக இருந்தது.#வெற்றிசெய்தி #கள்ளக்குறிச்சி #சுடுகாடு #இந்துமுன்னணி pic.twitter.com/MNBznXcY8E— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) August 10, 2024
It is a victory for Hindus to achieve justice through Hindu Munnani’s efforts. Similar issues persist in the state. In Koyambedu, despite Supreme Court and High Court orders, the state government is delaying the demolition of an illegal mosque built on Government land.
The issue underscores the need for amendments to the Waqf Board regulations to prevent the misuse of authority by Muslims, with the support of the ruling dispensation, to seize Hindu, temple, and government-owned lands. Interestingly, a day after the bill addressing this issue was introduced, it was referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for study and suggestions. District Collector Pradeep Kumar stated there was no ban on buying or selling properties in Thiruchendurai. (Minister Kiran Rijiju mentioned the village’s name after introducing the bill in Parliament, gaining national attention.) The collector also noted no ban on the 389 acres of land that the Waqf Board claimed as its own. The registration process was halted following the Waqf Board’s claim of ownership.
