On December 27, 2024, Syed Abu Tahir, a resident of Malaiyadiaptti near Rajapalayam, travelled to Tiruparankundram accompanied by family members, to forcefully ascend Tiruparankundram Malai. He brought goats and roosters for ritual sacrifice at the Sikkander Dargah. The group marched towards Tiruparankundram, shouting Allah hu Akbar’s slogan. The temple authorities stopped the group at the hill base, which sparked protest from SDPI cadres and Jamaat groups to express solidarity for Syed Abu Tahir and his family.
Protest by SDPI and Jamaat Groups Demanding Equal Worship Rights at Tiruparankundram Malai
On January 5, 2025, SDPI supporters and members of local Jamaat groups staged protests demanding that Muslims be allowed to access the Sikkander dargah for performing Namaz. The police denied their request, which led to a physical altercation between the protestors and the police. The protestors also threatened the police if they were not allowed access.
Muslim Groups Announce Non-Vegetarian Feast at Sikkander Dargah
The local Jamaat groups announced that the Equality feast will take place on January 17 at Sikkander Dargah, coinciding with the Santhanakoodu festival. It was mentioned that goat and chicken meat delicacies will be served to the visitors. The information regarding the equality feast was widely shared by Muslims on social media, which alerted the authorities and the police. In response, rigorous restrictions were enforced, including placing barricades and thorough checks on visitors to prevent the transportation of meat to the Malai.
Consumption of Non-Vegetarian Food by Aides of IUML MP Nawaz Gani
The situation worsened following Indian Union Muslim League MP and Tamil Nadu Waqf Board chairman Nawaz Gani’s visit to Tiruparankundram on January 22, 2025, in the name of a field investigation. During Nawaz Gani’s visit, two of his associates who came along with him had non-vegetarian food at the Malai. The picture of them having non-vegetarian food went viral on social media, which created massive outrage among Hindus all over Tamil Nadu. BJP state president Annamalai tweeted, “IUML MP Nawaz Gani trying to incite violence between two communities by consuming non-vegetarian food at Tiruparankundram”. Nawaz Gani replied to Annamalai, saying, “ban is imposed only for taking raw meat but cooked meat”. Hindu organisations demanded strong action against Nawaz Gani for allowing his associates to consume meat intentionally to hurt the sentiments of Hindus. Hindus also called for boycotting ST Courier services, which Nawaz Gani owns.
Unknown Muslim Miscreants Spray Green Paint over the Inscription near Jain Cave
Meanwhile, unknown Muslim individuals defaced inscriptions on a rock adjacent to an ancient Jain cave located at Tiruparankundram Malai, by splashing green paint over them. The Jain cave is under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India. A temporary maintenance worker, Rajan, was the first to notice the green paint. Following this, ASI officials removed the paint, and the police registered a case against the offenders.
All Party Delegation Submit Memorandum Supporting Muslim Side
Continuous chaos created by the Islamic elements for the past month prompted the Hindu Munnani to announce a massive protest on February 4 at Tiruparankundram. Hindu Munnani asked Hindus all over Tamil Nadu to gather in mass numbers for the protest to save Tiruparankundram Malai from the Islamic elements. Meanwhile, on January 27, 2025, an all-party delegation met the Madurai district collector and submitted a memorandum demanding equal worship rights for Muslims at Tiruparankundram Malai. Representatives from DMK, Indian Union Muslim League, Communist parties, Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Party, MDMK and AIADMK were part of the delegation. Representatives from Church groups, Muslim organisations and anti-Hindu activists were also part of the delegation.
Attempt to Stop Hindu Munnani Protest
On February 3, in response to Hindu Munnani’s planned protest on February 4, the Matha Nallena Amaipukal (Religious Harmony Organisation), which comprises various anti-Hindu organisations, staged a protest outside the Madurai district collectorate. Their demands included equal worship rights for Muslims at Tiruparankundram hills and the prevention of the Hindu Munnani protest. A delegation of anti-Hindu activists, led by Vanchinathan from the Peoples Union Civil Liberties and Marx Daniel Pandian, the state general secretary of the Tamil National Peoples Movement, met the district collector to submit a memorandum urging the cancellation of the Hindu Munnani and BJP protest. They also threatened to initiate a counter-protest if their demands were not met. Representatives from Church and Muslim organisations were also part of the delegation.
Permission Granted for the Protest by the High Court
After anti-Hindu elements submitted a memorandum to the district collector, the district collector of Madurai imposed Section 144 to restrict public gatherings on February 3 and February 4 and also banned Hindu Munnani protests. Police stopped vehicles carrying Hindu Munnani cadres at the district border and also held several Hindu Munnani and BJP leaders under house arrest. Subsequently, the Hindu Munnani sought judicial intervention to obtain permission for its protest, and the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court granted permission for the protest to take place at Palanganatham junction, five kilometres distant from the temple site.
Save Tiruparankundram Protest Organised by Hindu Munnani
Following the court’s approval, members of Hindu Munnani, BJP, VHP, and thousands of Hindus participated in the protest against Islamic groups attempting to seize Tiruparankundram Malai. The area thundered with “Vetri Vel Veera Vel” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” slogans chanted by the protestors. Hindus nationwide disseminated images of their protest on social media, commending their community for demonstrating resilience and determination in the face of Islamic aggression.
Reaction to the Hindu Munnani Protest
Following the massive success of the protest organised by Hindu Munnani and a tremendous Hindu resurgence on the issue, the DMK-backed anti-Hindu ecosystem has launched a widespread propaganda effort through both mainstream and social media to blame Hindu Munnani and the BJP for allegedly inciting hatred between Muslims and Hindus, while also attempting to disrupt the communal harmony that has been fostered under the DMK government. While the SDPI and Jamaat groups are primarily responsible for the situation, the ruling DMK is using its social media wing and social media influencers to fabricate a narrative that attributes the unrest to Hindu Munnani and the BJP.
Tiruparankundram Issue Background
Hindus have worshipped Lord Subramanya Swamy at Tiruparankundram Malai for thousands of years. In contrast, for the past two hundred years, Muslims have attempted to grab Tiruparankundram Malai by erecting a Dargah in the name of Sultan Sikkander Shaheed Waliullah Badushah. They have fabricated a narrative that Sultan Sikkander Badushah travelled from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Tamil Nadu in the 12th century to spread Islam among Hindus and was killed by a Pandya king in a battle at Tiruparankundram Malai. It is also claimed that he healed ailments of the local people through Quranic recitation. The Dargah was built in his honour, and since then, both Hindus and Muslims have been worshipping at the Dargah, which Muslims call Sikkander Malai instead of Tiruparankundram Malai. Over the past few years, various Muslim organisations, especially the SDPI, have been vigorously involved in the appropriation of Tiruparankundram Malai, and the present developments regarding the issue show their ulterior motives.
The recent developments on the issue exhibit desperation among Islamic elements to fulfill their longstanding agenda of grabbing Tiruparankundram Malai, under the pretext of advocating for equal worship rights for Muslims at a dargah that has been artificially established. Muslims bringing goats and roosters for ritualistic slaughter at Dargah and IUML MP Nawaz Gani’s aides consuming non-vegetarian food at the Malai are the main reasons for triggering massive Hindu awakening on the issue. All the political parties in Tamil Nadu, except the BJP, have extended their support for the Muslim side because of the vote bank. A protest organised by Hindu Munnani on the issue was a massive success as thousands of Hindus joined to raise their voice for protecting Tirupurankundram Malai from Islamic radicals despite efforts from anti-Hindu elements backed by the DMK government to stop the protest.
The DMK and anti-Hindu ecosystem is now spreading propaganda against Hindu Munnani and BJP for allegedly trying to spread communal hatred in Tamil Nadu through their mainstream media and social media ecosystem. The anti-Hindu ecosystem has now planned to conduct rallies and meetings to promote so-called communal harmony and to create awareness about the alleged communal Hindutva politics of RSS and BJP.
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