Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin dismissed charges against the state government over lighting a lamp at Thiruparakundram hill during the Karthigai Deepam festival and said those calling the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government 'anti-spiritual' have ulterior motives.
Addressing an event at Madurai on Sunday, Stalin said the lamp was lit at Thiruparankundram hill as per tradition, and the DMK government has done more for temples and Hinduism compared to other governments.
VIDEO | Madurai: Over the Karthigai Deepam row, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin (@mkstalin) says, “The lamp was lit at the usual place in Thiruparankundram. Some parties are trying to score political points."#MKStalin #Thiruparankundram #KarthigaiDeepam
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 7, 2025
(Full video available on PTI… pic.twitter.com/En1adz9Sbw
"The lamp at Thiruparankundram has been lit exactly where it should be lit, exactly when it should be lit, in the proper place and at the proper time, as per tradition. Since we came to power, we have conducted consecration for more than 3,000 temples," Stalin said. The chief minister added, "If someone calls a government like this an enemy of spirituality, the true devotees will clearly know what the ulterior motive of those who say so is."
Stalin said the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department followed all traditions during Karthigai deepam festival at Thiruparankundram hill. "What is the intention of the group that is stirring up this issue? The people know all this very well. Spirituality should give peace of mind, contentment, and keep people united. Creating divisions and splits for the political gain of a few and conspiring to fragment society is definitely not spirituality! It is politics! And that too, cheap, rotten politics!" slammed the chief minister.
Stalin said while the DMK is focused on development politics, the Opposition is interested in "others". "Out of jealousy and helplessness, they are resorting to unhealthy political conspiracies," he charged. Stalin said the DMK will foil every conspiracy the Opposition hatches against the state government.
Stalin targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party over development projects in Madurai. The chief minister charged that while the state government is working tirelessly to transform Madurai, the BJP is stalling projects.
"What happened to the AIIMS hospital that the Union BJP government announced for Madurai ten years ago? It still hasn’t come!"
He charged that the BJP government at the Centre tried to stop the Keezhadi excavation in Madurai. "After we came to power, not only have we taken forward the Keezhadi research in multiple phases, but we have also built a grand Keezhadi Museum with all the antiquities discovered so far! Tamils from all over the world are coming to see the Keezhadi Museum. But this Union BJP government is acting with hatred towards Tamil, even preventing the Keezhadi report from being released," he charged.
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"When we ask for a metro rail for Madurai, they say no. They reject it, citing flimsy reasons. Not only that, but BJP leaders arrogantly say 'Madurai doesn’t need a metro'. Fine, according to their logic, how did cities like Patna, Agra, and Indore in the BJP-ruled northern states get metro rail approval? Why shouldn’t a metro rail run in Madurai? Do you look down on Madurai people?" he asked.
The BJP and Hindu outfits are targeting the state government, demanding the implementation of a Madras High Court direction, which ordered the state government to light a lamp at a deepathoon (lamp pillar) on the hill, present close to a dargah. The state government has refused to implement the directions, and has moved the Supreme Court.
