The Thiruparankundram issue echoed in Parliament on December 12, when BJP MP Anurag Singh Thakur accused the DMK government in Tamil Nadu of crushing the sentiments of Hindus and resorting to appeasement politics. The DMK and the INDI Alliance have given an impeachment motion against single judge G R Swaminathan, who had delivered the verdict, bypassing the division bench that upheld his order.
During Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, he faulted the DMK for lathi-charging Hindu devotees who had taken out a procession near Thiruparankundram, the first abode of Bhagwan Murugan temple in Madurai, thereby committing contempt of court. Enraged by Thakur’s speech, DMK MPs trooped into the Well of the House shouting slogans, leading to a brief adjournment of the House.
Today in Zero Hour, I strongly raised the issue of anti-Sanatan Dharma statements in Tamil Nadu, insult of Lord Ram and the brutal lathi-charge on Hindus taking out a peaceful procession for Madurai Thiruparankundram Karthigai Deepam
Insult to Sanatan Dharma will not be… pic.twitter.com/IsOXvAAbw6
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) December 12, 2025
Anurag Thakur said, “The Madras High Court had given a verdict directing the temple authorities to light a lamp at the hilltop in view of Karthigai Deepam. But the DMK government ordered a cane charge on devotees who were proceeding to the temple for the Deepam festival. The government prevented devotees from lighting the lamp at the ancient stone Diya Sthuba (lamp pillar/Villakku Thoon).”
He said, “One state has become anti-Sanatana Dharma, and ministers are making anti-Hindu remarks. This is not just an attack, but a blatant contempt of court and a grave violation of the fundamental right to freedom of religion guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution of India.”
The former Union Minister urged the Central government to take cognisance of the systematic persecution of Hindu traditions in Tamil Nadu and to ensure the protection of the religious rights of Hindus in every corner of Bharat.
Critics say, “Singling out Judge G R Swaminathan speaks of the DMK’s ulterior intentions and its decades-old hatred against a particular caste in Tamil Nadu, which it blames for the ills of the state. Nowhere in history, as pointed out by former Supreme Court and High Court judges, has a state government—more particularly a political party—brought an impeachment motion against a judge merely for delivering an order that did not align with its political line.”
Justice Swaminathan has disposed of 73,505 main cases in the last eight years and does not hesitate to begin court proceedings at 9 am and continue until late evenings.
The reason why Justice GR Swaminathan of the #MadrasHighCourt is the darling of the Madurai Bar is his impressive case disposal statistics. He has disposed of 73,505 main cases in the last eight years & does not hesitate to begin court at 9 am & continue till late evenings. pic.twitter.com/xdZK0yeGqJ
— Mohamed Imranullah S (@imranhindu) December 10, 2025
Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran accused Chief Minister M K Stalin and the state government of disrespecting a court order and confronting the judiciary for vote-bank politics. He said the ruling party was adopting inconsistent stands for political convenience.
When asked about the DMK moving an impeachment motion against a judge who had delivered a judgment allowing the lighting of the lamp at the stone lamp pillar, Nainar Nagendran replied, “When a court order favours them, the DMK and its allies welcome it. But when a verdict goes against their vote-bank politics, they dismiss it and cast aspersions on the judiciary and judges.”
Recalling an earlier incident when DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi died and the then AIADMK government denied permission for burial at Marina Beach, he said the DMK had moved the court for a late-night hearing and M K Stalin obtained a favourable order. Then Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) did not contest the court’s decision. “We welcome EPS’s stand on the Thiruparankundram issue, which aligns with that of the BJP,” he said.
On remarks made by retired High Court judge Hariparanthaman known for his anti-Hindu utterances and his following of E V Ramaswamy Naicker that the judiciary was influenced by Sanatana forces, and his repeated questioning of Justice G R Swaminathan’s credibility, Nainar Nagendran said such comments were unjustified and could lead to undesirable consequences. “The I.N.DI.A bloc MPs’ move for the impeachment of Justice G R Swaminathan is unwarranted and sets a dangerous and wrong precedent,” he said.
Critics point out that, by the same logic, the other side could also accuse retired High Court judges Paranthaman and K Chandra of bias, if their statements are taken seriously. As claimed earlier by DMK leader R S Bharathi that many judges were appointed because of Karunanidhi, critics say such claims warrant a re-examination of their judgments as well.
Meanwhile, before a division bench comprising Justices G Jayachandran and K K Ramachandran, which was hearing appeals against the order of single judge G R Swaminathan, the Tamil Nadu government stated that for more than 150 years, the Mahadeepan had been lit only at the Ucchipillaiyar Temple Mandapam and never at the Deepa Thoon. After hearing the submissions, the court posted the matter for further hearing on December 15.
Even as the Madras High Court allowed a heavily restricted “peaceful fasting” protest by local residents demanding permission for the ritual on December 11, the state archaeology department conducted an official survey of the stone lamp pillar.
