Chennai, 7 December (H.S.) : Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran has accused Chief Minister M.K. Stalin of exploiting the Thiruparankundram Subramaniya Swamy Temple-mosque issue for vote bank politics, following the detention of several BJP leaders, including himself and H. Raja, in connection with the recent Karthigai Deepam row. Nagendran's detention occurred in Madurai Tirupparankunram on Thursday by the Tamil Nadu police.

The controversy centers on the sacred Karthigai Deepam lamp, which devotees were prevented from lighting atop the Thiruparankundram hill, a site known for its historic religious coexistence, housing the Subramaniya Swamy Temple and the Sikkander Badusha Dargah.

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had previously directed authorities to ensure the lamp was lit atop the temple hill. However, officials instead adhered to a long-standing tradition of lighting it at the nearby Deepa Mandapam, triggering clashes with Hindu outfits who alleged the court order was deliberately ignored.

Nagendran argued that the court had permitted the lighting of the lamp, and imposing Section 144—which the court had quashed—to prevent the ritual amounts to contempt of court. He insisted that there was no local opposition from the Muslim community regarding the lighting of the lamp and that the Chief Minister was wrongfully exploiting the matter politically.

Separately, BJP leader K. Annamalai launched a scathing attack, demanding the immediate release of all detained party functionaries and insisting that the anti-Hindu DMK government implement the court's orders without further defiance.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary