Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan claimed that the notion of "Hindu unity" is a misconception, as members of the religion are divided by caste, language and region. When Hindu practices face attack, it is the responsibility of every believer to show resistance, the Jana Sena chief added.
As a consequence of such numerous divisions existing among Hindus, the claim that "Hindus are the majority in the country" is misleading, the NDA ally reportedly said. Everybody is targeting the Hindus and questioning their traditions at every possible opportunity, he further alleged.
In the light of the Thirupparankundram deepam row, the actor-turned-politician said that some political parties in Tamil Nadu are following "pseudo-secularism" and accused the Tamil Nadu's DMK government of "interfering" in the affairs of temples. "Everybody who goes to a temple with folded hands to pray to God and people who believe in Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) should talk about the leanings of opportunistic politicians," the Jana Sena chief said in a statement on Wednesday night.
In a reference to the row in the neighbouring state, Kalyan said that after a judge of the Madras HC's Madurai Bench pronounced a verdict "protecting the Hindu community's rights," over 100 MPs submitted a petition in Parliament seeking the judge's impeachment. However, when the Supreme Court gave its judgment in the Sabarimala temple issue, Hindus fought legally but did not seek impeachment of judges, the actor-politician was quoted as saying by PTI.
READ HERE | Thiruparankundram temple row explained: The making of an 'Ayodhya of the south'?
His reaction comes after Members of Parliament belonging to the INDIA bloc moved an impeachment motion against Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court under Article 217 read with 124 of the Constitution of India. Justice Swaminathan had on December 1 ordered that Karthigai deepam must be lit on the deepathoon (lamp pillar) atop the hills near the dargah instead of the deepa mandapam near the Uchipillaiyar temple as has been done for years. Though Swaminathan ordered that the lamp must be lit on the lamp pillar, the HR and CE department of the Tamil Nadu government chose to light the lamp near Uchipillaiyar temple as usual, by 6 pm on the festival day, as per tradition. This invited a court contempt.
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Thirupparankundram, located in Madurai, is one of the most celebrated shrines where the temple and a dargah coexist for centuries. The hill is home to Subramanya Swamy temple, Kasi Viswanathar temple and Sikander Badusha dargah. The Hindu and Muslim communities have been living in harmony at Thiruparankundram for centuries, and members from both the communities own shops around the hill temple.
The current row over lighting the lamp came up after Rama Ravikumar, a Hindu activist, who is also running a party, moved the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court seeking direction to the government to make arrangements to light the oil lamp on a sacred pillar atop the hillock on the day of Karthigai deepam festival. Justice Swaminathan passed an order allowing Ravikumar’s petition which led to the chaos and the confusion in the peacefully celebrated festival.
