Shafaqna India: The BJP on Tuesday attacked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and the ruling DMK, accusing them of pursuing “anti-Sanatan Dharma” politics after the Madras High Court upheld the tradition of lighting lamps during the Deepathoon at the Tirupparankundram temple.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who is the party’s in-charge for Tamil Nadu elections, criticised Stalin, his son and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, and senior DMK leaders, alleging that they had consistently attacked and belittled Sanatan Dharma.
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“It is extremely unfortunate that the state government appealed against the honourable judge’s order permitting the lighting of the lamp, clearly reflecting an anti-Hindu mindset and exposing the hostility that Stalin, Udhayanidhi, the DMK and their partners in the INDI alliance have towards the Hindu religion,” Goyal said.
He described the ritual as a centuries-old practice, claiming that there had never been any dispute over it in the past. “This is nothing but appeasement politics aimed at favouring one community,” he alleged.
“It is not a mere coincidence that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M K Stalin, his son Udhayanidhi Stalin and other senior leaders of the DMK have consistently berated, derided and attacked Sanatan Dharma,” Goyal said.
Referring to a past remark attributed to Udhayanidhi Stalin, Goyal said the Deputy Chief Minister had spoken about the “eradication of Sanatan Dharma”. He alleged that the subsequent prevention of the traditional lighting of lamps at the Tirupparankundram temple reflected the state government’s anti-Hindu bias.
Welcoming the High Court’s order, Goyal said, “The Tamil Nadu High Court has given justice to the devotees of the ancient temple on the Thirupparankundram hill, where Bhagwan Murugan resides and where lamps have been lit for centuries.”
Goyal also criticised the Opposition INDI alliance for seeking to move an impeachment motion against Justice G R Swaminathan. He alleged that leaders of the alliance, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Supriya Sule, Dharmendra Yadav, Dimple Yadav, A Raja and Arvind Sawant, were at the forefront of what he described as an anti-Hindu campaign and were attempting to intimidate the judiciary.
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court upheld Justice Swaminathan’s order permitting the lighting of lamps during the Deepathoon at the Tirupparankundram temple. The Bench, however, ruled that as the hill is a protected site, all activities must strictly comply with the provisions of the relevant law.
