CHENNAI: Poorna Chandran, a devotee died after setting himself on fire in Madurai on December 18, triggering political reactions and renewed focus on the Thiruparankundram Karthigai Deepam dispute.
Tamil Nadu police said a 40-year-old man self-immolated inside a police booth near the Periyar Statue, allegedly protesting the non-lighting of the Karthigai Deepam atop Thiruparankundram Hill despite a court order. He succumbed to burn injuries. The body has been sent for post-mortem, and Tallakulam Police have taken up the investigation.
Reacting to the incident, BJP Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai said the deceased, identified as Thiru Poorna Chandran, was a devotee of Bhagwan Murugan and was distressed over the State government’s refusal to permit the lighting of the sacred lamp on the Deepa Thoon at Thiruparankundram Hill. He expressed condolences to the family and appealed to devotees to remain calm, urging faith in the judiciary and cautioning against extreme steps.
He expressed condolences to the family and appealed to devotees to remain calm, stressing faith in the judiciary and cautioning against extreme actions.
The incident comes amid an ongoing legal and political standoff over the Karthigai Deepam ritual. The Madras High Court had earlier passed orders allowing the lighting of the lamp, but the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government challenged the decision, citing administrative and law-and-order concerns. The matter escalated further after an impeachment motion was moved against Justice G R Swaminathan, who had delivered key observations in the case.
BJP, Hindu Munnani, VHP and several Hindu organisation have accused the DMK government of delaying tactics and politicising a religious issue, while the DMK and CM Stalin has maintained that it is acting within the legal framework.
