Hindu Munnani has protested against the demolition of a nearly 200-year-old Railadi Vinayagar temple near Kurumbur Railway Station in Thoothukudi district and submitted a memorandum to Union Minister of State L. Murugan, seeking action against the railway officials for their selective approach in removing the religious structure at the same location.
The memorandum urged action against railway officials, including T.N. Pramila and others who are responsible for the demolition of Hindu temple. The delegation also requested that the Vinayagar temple be rebuilt at the same place. Murugan assured the delegation that appropriate action would be taken, Hindu Munnani said.
The delegation included Hindu Munnani State Secretary K. Kutralanathan, RSS functionary A. Kamaraj, Thoothukudi BJP South District President R. Chitrangathan and elders from Panikkanaadar Kudiyiruppu and Nalumavadi areas residing in Chennai.
Railway authorities used an earthmover to demolish the temple near Kurumbur Railway Station during the intervening night of August 19 and 20, following a court order concerning alleged encroachment on Railway land, Hindu Munnani said. The organisation alleged that the demolition was carried out despite appeals by Hindu devotees and functionaries to stop the operation.
Hindu Munnani functionaries said they had met authorities on the morning of August 19 and appealed against the demolition. They said they were surprised to learn that officials were preparing to proceed with the operation and that the temple was subsequently razed during the intervening hours.
Railway authorities maintained that the site had been identified as Railway property that had been encroached upon and that the action was carried out in accordance with the court order.
Hindu Munnani alleged that a nearby church associated with preacher Mohan C. Lazarus, who runs NGO named Jesus Redeems, was left untouched. The organisation further alleged that a railway official in Madurai had played a role in ordering the demolition of the Hindu temple while leaving the church intact.
The Hindu Munnani members said the land had been donated to the Railways by a Hindu and claimed that the temple had existed there without causing any obstruction to public movement or traffic. It maintained that the temple should therefore be reconstructed at the same location.
Hindu Munnani also objected to the manner in which the idols were removed during the demolition. According to its functionaries, devotees had requested officials not to handle the idols while wearing footwear.
Around 100 police personnel were deployed during the demolition operation to prevent a law-and-order situation, according to Hindu Munnani. The organisation said its cadres attempted to block the demolition but were subsequently removed by the police.
On August 22, Hindu Munnani staged a demonstration against the demolition. Functionaries including V.P. Jayakumar, D. Arasu Raja, advocate Kutralanathan, Sakthivelan and K.K. Ponniah, along with BJP leader RajKannan, took part in the protest.
Hindu Munnani also questioned a plaque carrying the name of Mohan C. Lazarus on a railway platform extension, asking why the name of a Christian preacher had been included in a railway-related inscription.
Other recent protests
Hindu Munnani has also raised several other issues in Tamil Nadu in recent days connected with Church and its unauthorised activities.
In Thanjavur, Hindu Munnani functionary Gunasekar was detained under preventive detention after he complained against an event organised by the Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam. The organisation condemned his detention, sought his early release and demanded that the event be banned. It said it submitted a complaint at the Thanjavur police station on August 21.
In Tirupur, Hindu Munnani cadres held a protest at a newly constructed building, alleging that attempts were being made to conduct namaz at an unauthorised structure. The organisation also alleged that Tirupur had become a destination for Bangladeshi nationals.
In Coimbatore, the organisation opposed a proposal to establish a sewage and transfer station by converting a Hindu burial ground at Kovai Nanjundan Puthur. Hindu Munnani said the burial ground had been used by Hindus for a long period and joined local residents in opposing the proposed takeover.
Earlier in the week, Hindu Munnani held a protest on the Nellaiappar Temple car street in Tirunelveli against a meeting organised by the Dravidar Kazhagam. The protest was led by Kutralanathan, and police arrested Hindu Munnani and BJP leaders.
Hindu Munnani also criticised former DMK Minister I. Periyasamy’s appeal in the Tamil Nadu Assembly for reservation benefits for converted persons, particularly converted Christians with Scheduled Caste status. The organisation termed the demand an example of vote-bank and appeasement politics.
AIADMK MLA Leema Rose, the mother-in-law of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam Minister Adhav Arjuna, meanwhile demanded in the Assembly that cemeteries for Christians be established in every district, stating that there was no common burial ground for Christians in several places.
Hindu Munnani also objected to prayers being held at a school premises in Thisaiyanvillai, alleging that the programme was conducted despite the Chief Minister’s advice. The organisation said its cadres who protested against the programme were arrested.
