In yet another instance exposing the DMK government’s repeated attempts to suppress Hindu religious activities, the Madras High Court has once again stepped in to ensure justice. The Court has directed the DMK-led administration and its police machinery to permit the Bhagwan Murugan Conference scheduled for June 22, along with the ongoing ten-day exhibition showcasing miniature idols of Bhagwan Murugan from his six abodes, symbolised by the Vel. This relief comes despite the state government’s continued efforts to create hurdles for Hindu organisations such as RSS, Hindu Munnani, VHP, BJP, and other Sangh inspired groups by routinely denying permissions for their rallies, festivals, meetings and protests, often citing flimsy or manufactured reasons.
The Hindu Munnani was forced to approach the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court after the police, following the DMK government’s standard template, initially stalled permission and later imposed an unmanageable set of over 52 conditions. These restrictions, many of which were impractical and designed to discourage organisers, included bans on processions, complicated vehicle pass requirements, and mandatory approvals from multiple authorities such as the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department under Section 34, as well as the Madurai City Corporation.
Justice B. Pugalendhi, hearing the petition on June 13, questioned the excessive restrictions after police claimed that permission had technically been granted on June 12. The state government, in its defence, predictably cited vague law and order concerns, conveniently referring to an unrelated incident — the recent Bengaluru stampede — to justify its obstructive approach. However, the Court, acknowledging the petitioner’s plea intervened to grant permission.
Speaking to the media on June 14 at the Hindu Munnani State headquarters, media in-charge A.T. Elangovan said the conditions are difficult to adhere to. Hindu Munnani raised objections to six of the conditions — including a ban on processions, the requirement for vehicle passes to enter the venue, and the need for separate approvals from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department under Section 34, and the Madurai City Corporation. The organisation filed a separate petition seeking exemption from these six conditions.
He said that among the 52 conditions were requirements to obtain passes from the respective district police, a ban on conducting bike rallies, and submission of the names, addresses, and details of all devotees and vehicles coming to Madurai to the concerned district police administration by 18 June. He stated that it was practically impossible to provide names, addresses, and the total number of people and vehicles, which may change at the last moment. According to him, these measures were intended to harass vehicle owners with false cases and intimidate devotees from attending the conference. “We told the court that locals and nearby devotees would prefer to come by their bikes rather than by public carriers. Section 34 of HR&CE was totally irrelevant to the conference and miniature exhibition. These kinds of conditions are unheard of elsewhere in the country. Hindu Munnani had submitted the petition seeking approval on April 11, but the police delayed it until we moved the court and secured directions from the judiciary.”
முருக பக்தர்கள் மாநாடு நோக்கம் என்ன..?? எதற்காக..??
இந்துமுன்னணி மாநில செய்தித்தொடர்பாளர், இளங்கோவன் அவர்கள் பத்திரிக்கையாளர் சந்திப்பு..#முருக_பக்தர்கள்_மாநாடு #muruga_baktharkal_manadu #HinduMunnani pic.twitter.com/w7YmywAUAh
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) June 14, 2025
Agreeing with Hindu Munnani’s submissions, the judge granted permission for the Murugan Bakthargalin Aanmeega Maanadu (Murugan Devotees’ Spiritual Conference) subject to certain conditions, which included allowing only two drones to be used. The judge emphasised that “politics should not be mixed with religious events.”
The court also passed an order, after hearing a plea, directing the authorities to permit temporary miniature models of the six abodes of Bhagwan Murugan and the performance of poojas ahead of the devotees’ conference.
Elangovan stated, “Once in five years, Hindu Munnani organises a mega conference with a different theme or issue. In 2020, it was not held due to the pandemic. This year we have chosen Bhagwan Murugan, who is the Tamil God, and scriptures contain numerous hymns in Tamil on him, like Thiruppugazh, Skanda Shasthi Kavasam, etc. This is to unite all Murugan devotees and reaffirm Tamil Nadu as a spiritual and divine land with nationalistic thoughts. There is no political intent. The DMK government did not act against Karuppar Kootam, which made highly disparaging remarks on Bhagwan Murugan. Despite our objections, the group is protected and honoured personally by the Chief Minister. Neither the DMK nor its allies, who oppose the conference, criticised Karuppar Kootam. The TN HR&CE Minister even claimed that the event is a confluence of Sanghis, and no real Murugan devotees would attend the June 22 conference.”
When asked, he said they had extended invitations, personally and through other means, to all political parties, organisations, movements, associations, and VIPs, including film stars. So far, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has not given an appointment to receive the invitation personally. “It is a spiritual and devotional conference. DMK and certain outfits are levelling political accusations, similar to the way they politicised Bhagwan Ram and Ganapathy in North India for electoral gains. Ahead of the conference, we performed special poojas in all Panchayats, Municipalities, and Corporation wards to create awareness about the event and its significance.”
Former TN BJP Chief K. Annamalai, taking to his social media handle X, thanked the DMK for providing free publicity to the event.
ஜூன் 22 மதுரையில் நடைபெறவிருக்கும் முருக பக்தர்கள் மாநாட்டிற்கு இலவசமாக விளம்பரம் செய்து கொடுத்த திமுக மற்றும் காங்கிரஸ் கட்சிகளுக்கு நன்றி! முன்னாள் மாநிலத் தலைவர் திரு.@annamalai_k அவர்கள் pic.twitter.com/JpoVf508dq
— En Mann En Makkal (@EnMannEnMakkal) June 14, 2025
Hindu Munnani expects over five lakh devotees at the June 22 event. Arrangements have been made for food courts, vehicle parking, toilets, and resting rooms. On June 22 at exactly 6 pm, all the devotees present will jointly chant the Skanda Shasthi Kavasam. It is expected to be a fitting blow to elements like Karuppar Kootam, the DMK and its allies, who are working against Bhagwan Murugan and other Hindu deities through every possible means. They are attempting to set narratives claiming there are no gods or referring to North Indian gods, accusing BJP, RSS and Sangh Parivar of imposing their agenda to win elections in Tamil Nadu. At the same time, they claim that BJP and RSS would not gain even an inch of ground in Tamil Nadu as it belongs to E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker. However, the reality is different, and they fear seeing the writing on the wall with the growing acceptance of the BJP in Tamil Nadu.
TN BJP spokesperson A.N.S. Prasad, in a statement, said, “CM M.K. Stalin and the DMK government have been directed to cease politicisation and ensure the unfettered conduct of the World Murugan Devotees Conference in Madurai, upholding spiritual rights and constitutional freedoms. He may not be a devotee of Bhagwan Murugan, but under the Constitution of India, he cannot act against the Tamil deity. CM Stalin may take pride in declaring himself a non-devotee of Murugan to please the followers of E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar). However, the DMK government must stop covertly obstructing the upcoming conference, as this gives the public the impression that Stalin is an ‘enemy of the Tamil deity Murugan’. As per the Constitution framed by Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Mr. M.K. Stalin must act as Chief Minister for all religions equally.”
He added, “People have now realised the true nature of the anti-Hindu Periyarist DMK of Chief Minister Stalin, the missionary-backed anti-Hindu DMK of Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, and the foreign religious, Hindu-targeting DMK of Minister Sekarbabu, who continues to malign the conference.”
Dravidianist pastor Jegath Gaspar alleged that “a group that has no ties to our land, its roots, or its collective memory is now forcefully entering Tamil Nadu — a peaceful, lush land — attempting to turn it into a breeding ground for religious fanaticism. Their entire strategy is aimed at the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Those who believed they could win elections using Bhagwan Rama, who tried to politicise Vinayagar processions as grand cultural spectacles but failed, are now turning to Bhagwan Murugan — who holds deep cultural and emotional significance for this land — using him as their latest weapon.”
He questioned the participation of leaders from other states: “It was the arrival of Vaidika (Vedic) traditions that caused all this confusion. Just look at the group that’s coming — Amit Shah’s group, Adityanath’s group, Pawan Kalyan’s group. We need to see why someone like Pawan Kalyan is coming here. He traces his roots back to the Vijayanagara Empire.”
He added: “In the Aryan tradition, there’s a god named Kartikeya. Now they say Kartikeya and Murugan are one and the same, right? Then they spin tales like: ‘Agathiyar came from there, Bharathamuni came from there.’ Just look at how they fabricate stories and say Bhagwan Shiva beat his drum, and from one side came the Ganges and from the other, Tamil.”
Observers of the Murugan conference express that people asserting their roots and culture pose a real threat to Dravidian politics like that of the DMK, which feels threatened when the cultural roots of the nation speak in one voice and thought from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
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