The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday celebrated a Madras High Court order as a significant triumph for Hindu religious practices, while launching a sharp attack on the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu. The court's decision upheld the right to light a lamp on a stone pillar, known as a deepathoon, atop the Thiruparankundram hill in Madurai.
Court Order Hailed as Dharma's Victory
The party described the ruling by a division bench, which confirmed a earlier single-judge verdict, as a "big victory" for Hindu dharma and justice for devotees. BJP leaders also framed it as a "slap for appeasement politics" allegedly pursued by the DMK and its allies. The core issue revolved around the legality and tradition of lighting the lamp on the structure located on the hill.
Goyal's Stern Warning to DMK Government
Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who is the BJP's election in-charge for Tamil Nadu, strongly criticized the state government for its indicated plan to appeal against the High Court order. He asserted that such a move would represent a continuation of the DMK's "anti-Hindu" politics. Goyal warned that the people would teach the DMK a lesson, drawing a parallel to the recent electoral setback faced by the INDIA bloc in Bihar.
Goyal also escalated the attack by accusing the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), and DMK of attempting to intimidate the judiciary. He referenced a December Lok Sabha notice signed by 107 MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, which sought the impeachment of Justice G R Swaminathan. Justice Swaminathan's initial order in this case was later upheld by the division bench. The Union Minister further recalled past remarks by DMK leaders against 'sanatan dharma' to underscore his charge of the party's opposition to Hindu customs.
BJP State Leaders Welcome the Ruling
BJP's Tamil Nadu president, Nainar Nagenthran, welcomed the division bench's ruling, stating that it reaffirmed that the deepathoon belonged to the Subramaniya Swamy temple. He accused the DMK government of repeatedly invoking law-and-order concerns for political convenience to restrict religious activities.
Echoing this sentiment, former state BJP president K Annamalai said the court clearly observed that fears of law-and-order problems were unfounded. He emphasized the court's view that any disturbance could arise only if the state itself sponsored it. Annamalai urged the government not to pursue its political agenda at the cost of public harmony.
The principal opposition party in the state, the AIADMK, did not issue an official response. However, former AIADMK MLA V V Rajanchellappa made a social media post accusing the state government of politicizing a sensitive issue. The political discourse around the court order highlights the ongoing tensions in Tamil Nadu over matters of religion, tradition, and governance.
