Despite a firm stand by Hindus in the Thiruparankundram row, the DMK government continues to face allegations of leaning towards Muslim appeasement. The dispute centres on the hilltop at Thiruparankundram, where the government has permitted Muslims to conduct Sandalwood (Santhanakoodu) celebrations at the dargah, while repeatedly failing to comply with court orders permitting the lighting of the stone Deepa Thoon.
Even after clear judicial directions and repeated appeals by Hindu organisations, the government did not allow the ritual lighting at the Deepa Thoon. It also rejected a plea by Hindu Munnani to light a Moksha Deepam in memory of Poornachandran, who died after protesting against DMK’s refusal to respect the sentiments of devotees of Bhagwan Murugan.
Following the incident, Hindu Munnani organised the lighting of Moksha Deepams at various temples across Tamil Nadu on December 21 in memory of Poorna Chandran. However, police allegedly created hurdles at several locations, detaining cadres and denying permission in multiple districts.
Hindu Munnani state president Kadeswara Subramaniam said the DMK had disobeyed court orders while allowing Muslims to conduct the Sandalwood festival at the dargah atop the hill, and questioned whether such selective permissions would not create communal clashes and endanger public tranquillity. He said the death of Poornachandran was the result of sustained psychological pressure, adding that “the blood is on the hands of the rulers”. He further said that even lighting a Moksha Deepam was now being denied, asserting that it was a right guaranteed under the Constitution.
In Chennai, police arrested a Hindu Munnani functionary who lit a Moksha Deepam, while in other places permission was denied outright. In several districts, cadres of the organisation were detained when they attempted to light the lamp in accordance with the call given by the outfit.
Meanwhile, Poorna Chandran’s wife, Indumathi, said her husband was deeply distressed over the refusal to allow the lighting of the lamp at the stone Deepa Thoon. She said he frequently visited the hill to worship and never hinted at taking such an extreme step. “We never imagined he would commit suicide,” she said. Rama Ravikumar submitted petitions to the District Collector, the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police, stating that officials who denied permission for lighting the lamp should own responsibility for his death. The petition sought compensation of ₹20.5 lakh for the family, describing it as a penalty for disobeying court orders that allegedly led to his death. Separately, the BJP announced ₹10 lakh in cash assistance to Poornachandran’s family.
#உத்தமபாளையம்#திருப்பரங்குன்றம் மலை மீது #தீபத்தூணில் தீபம் ஏற்றாத தமிழக திராவிட அரசை #தீபம் ஏற்றக்கோரி தன் உயிரை #தியாகம் செய்த முருக பக்தர் #பூரண_சந்திரன் அவர்களின் ஆன்மா நற்கதி அடைய வேண்டி, #தேனி மாவட்டம் உத்தமபாளையம் நகர் இந்து முன்னணி சார்பாக நரசிங்கபெருமாள் கோவில்… pic.twitter.com/nZJsMGxoby
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) December 22, 2025
Supporters have also drawn historical parallels, recalling that in 1792, a Hindu man named Kutty jumped from the temple tower and died while trying to prevent British forces from entering and looting the temple, following which the British forces withdrew. They argue that there have been multiple instances in history where Hindus sacrificed their lives to protect the temple.
A few days after residents of Thiruparankundram staged a peaceful hunger strike demanding implementation of the High Court order, members of the nomadic community submitted a petition to the District Magistrate urging execution of the order by lighting the lamp atop the ancient stone diya sthuba, in line with the single judge’s ruling.
Critics have accused the DMK government of using Hindu temple funds to engage expensive lawyers to defend its stand against the High Court order, while simultaneously advancing what they describe as shifting narratives and contradictory claims to delay and deny the ritual lighting at the Deepa Thoon.
During the grievance redressal day held at the Madurai District Collectorate on December 15, fresh petitions were submitted reiterating the demand to allow lighting of the lamp at the Deepa Thoon. Similar petitions had been filed during the grievance day the previous week, when members of various communities arrived in groups to submit representations.
On one such occasion, members of the Tamil Nadu Narikuravar Federation arrived at the Collectorate dressed as Hindu deities, including Murugan, Valli, Rama, Hanuman and Perumal, to submit a petition. Police initially denied them entry, but they were later allowed inside following instructions from District Collector K J Praveen Kumar. They accused the DMK government of not respecting the sentiments of the Hindu community. Around 50 members of the Narikuravar community, along with federation president M Jaiganesh, submitted a petition stating that lighting the Deepam at the location directed by the High Court would make it clearly visible to devotees. He said the failure to light the lamp had caused them mental anguish and urged authorities to facilitate the ritual without further delay.
In another development, on December 10, advocates from the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court submitted a memorandum to the Lok Sabha Speaker opposing the move to impeach Justice G R Swaminathan. They described the impeachment attempt as a direct effort to destabilise the judiciary and a high-handed use of extraordinary constitutional provisions. They stated that they were refraining from commenting on the merits of the dispute as the matter was sub judice and pending before higher courts.
The memorandum noted that Justice Swaminathan had disposed of 1,26,426 cases, including 73,505 main cases, between June 2017 and November 2025, reflecting what they termed a high degree of impartiality, honesty and integrity. They urged the Speaker to reject the impeachment motion in limine, citing Articles 124(4) and 217 of the Constitution and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, and to uphold the principle of separation of powers.
In Chennai, over 100 advocates from the Madras High Court, led by Kumaraguru, Paul Kanagaraj and K Ashok, held a protest condemning the DMK government for allegedly disobeying court orders. They also opposed the move to impeach the single judge for his verdict in the case.
Separately, Indu Makkal Katchi submitted a representation on December 9 seeking to prevent the administration of the Hazrath Sultan Sikandar Badusha Aulia Dargah from hoisting a ceremonial flag for the Sandana Koodu festival on December 21 on the Kallathi tree near the dargah. The party warned that allowing the flag hoisting could lead to future claims under adverse possession and demanded its immediate removal.
Meanwhile, members of the Madurai Muslim Aikkiya Jamaath submitted a petition to District Collector Praveen Kumar on December 10 seeking action against those allegedly attempting to disrupt communal harmony. Jamaath president Liyakat Ali told the media that decisive action was needed to counter what he described as malicious propaganda. Representatives of IUML, MMK, TMMK, SDPI, the Tamil Nadu Ulema Council and other religious organisations were present.
Left parties, including CPI(M), CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the All India Forward Bloc, issued a joint statement on December 9 condemning what they called attempts by the BJP and Hindutva groups to create communal discord. They alleged that the Thiruparankundram hill, which houses temples, a dargah and ancient Jain caves, was being projected as the “Ayodhya of the South”.
Retired High Court judge D Hariparandaman, associated with Dravidar Kazhagam, urged that the case be shifted from Justice G R Swaminathan, alleging bias. Speaking to the media on December 10, he claimed that proper protocols were not followed in issuing contempt notices against the state machinery. Advocate S Vanchinathan, coordinator of Matha Nallinakka Makkal Kootamaippu, reiterated the argument that the Deepa Thoon was a survey stone and not a religious structure. Another retired judge, K Chandru, also questioned Justice Swaminathan’s handling of the case.
Amid these developments, Thirumangalam Revenue Divisional Officer Sivajothi granted permission for the flag-hoisting ceremony scheduled on December 21 for the Santhanakoodu festival, which will continue until January 6, 2026, at the Hazrath Sultan Sikandar Badusha Aulia Dargah atop the Thiruparankundram hill. A peace committee meeting was held with officials and representatives of the dargah administration. Critics have questioned how lighting a lamp by Hindus is said to threaten communal harmony when festivals at the dargah are permitted on land claimed to belong to the Subramanya Swami Temple, describing the situation as rank appeasement by the DMK government.
