Tamil Nadu BJP alleges temple entry violated Madras High Court order

Tamil Nadu BJP accused ministers S Ramesh and Aadhav Arjuna of facilitating a disputed temple entry. The party said the incident breached court-mandated restrictions and undermined religious safeguards.

In Short

• Visitors must record faith undertaking before crossing the temple flagstaff
• Party spokesperson said dress codes, agama rules and sanctity were disregarded
• A viral video captured a devotee questioning the entry's basis

The Tamil Nadu BJP on Saturday condemned ministers S Ramesh and Aadhav Arjuna for allegedly facilitating the entry of a non-Hindu aide wearing a skull cap into the Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

The party alleged that the entry violated temple rules and a Madras High Court order issued in January 2024, which prohibits non-Hindus from proceeding beyond the temple's flagstaff without recording an undertaking of faith in the deity and agreeing to follow Hindu customs.

BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy called the incident a "clear violation" of the court order. He also claimed that it disregarded the temple's dress code and sanctity, PTI reported.

"Temples under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department are places of Hindu worship, not venues for political or official disregard of agama rules, court directions, and devotee sentiments. The intervention by the HR&CE Minister to suppress objections from devotees further shows an unwillingness to uphold the very rules the department is meant to enforce," Thirupathy said in a post on X.

He said such conduct weakened the legal and traditional framework protecting Hindu temples and set a dangerous precedent.

"I demand that both ministers issue an immediate public apology, ensure strict compliance with the High Court order at all HR & CE temples, and take steps so that similar violations do not recur. The sanctity of places of worship must be respected without exception," he said.

In a video that went viral, a devotee could be heard asking the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister about the basis for allowing a man wearing a skull cap to enter the historic temple premises, according to PTI.

The BJP has sought an apology from the two ministers and demanded that the High Court's directions be followed at all temples managed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department to prevent similar incidents.

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