The Lok Sabha witnessed significant disruption and was forced to adjourn its proceedings on Friday after members of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) staged a vociferous protest. The uproar centered on a sensitive religious controversy in Tamil Nadu regarding the lighting of a traditional lamp at a site near a dargah in Madurai.
Protest Halts Parliamentary Business
As soon as the House assembled at 11 am, DMK parliamentarians, led by senior member T R Baalu, entered the Well of the House. They raised slogans and demanded attention for their issue, preventing the commencement of the scheduled Question Hour. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla repeatedly urged the protesting members to return to their seats, emphasizing the need for the House to conduct its regular business.
Speaker Birla also pointed out that the matter was sub judice, meaning it was still under judicial consideration, and thus not appropriate for discussion in that manner. Despite his appeals, the protests continued, leading him to adjourn the House at 11:30 am until noon.
The Heart of the Controversy
The protest stems from a legal and cultural dispute concerning the Arulmigu Subramanya Swamy Temple in Madurai. The controversy involves the 'Deepathoon', a stone pillar on the Thirupparankundram Hill, which is located close to a dargah (a Muslim shrine).
On December 1, Justice G R Swaminathan of the Madras High Court allowed a plea permitting devotees to light the traditional Karthigai Deepam lamp at this site during the Karthigai festival on December 3. The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government, opposing this order, moved the Supreme Court on Thursday, filing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) to challenge the High Court's decision.
Adding to the tension, the Madurai District Collector, K J Praveenkumar, is facing contempt proceedings for allegedly defying the High Court's December 1 order.
Supreme Court Refusal and Further Sloganeering
In a related development on Friday, the Supreme Court refused to entertain an attempt by Tamil Nadu authorities to urgently mention their SLP challenging the Madras High Court order. This judicial decision likely fueled the protests in Parliament.
When the Lok Sabha reconvened at noon, with Telugu Desam Party (TDP) member Krishna Prasad Tenneti presiding, T R Baalu was allowed to raise the issue. However, his remarks about the Madras High Court judge who passed the order sparked fresh protests from treasury bench members.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju strongly objected, stating, "This amounts to casting aspersions on the judiciary. Honourable member T R Baalu is a senior member. He cannot cast aspersions on the judiciary." This exchange underscored the deep political and legal divisions the issue has exposed.
The repeated disruptions highlight the ongoing challenges in parliamentary functioning when regional religious sensitivities collide with legal processes, often bringing legislative work to a standstill.
