Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday told the Tamil Nadu Assembly that if the BJP tries to politicize the temple issue to strengthen the party, it will not succeed.
Stalin, speaking on an issue raised by BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan, said to focus more on the issues affecting the poor people. He asked them to urge his party-led central government to rein in the rising prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas, which affected the common people.
Also, the Chief Minister said that he should support the state’s efforts towards getting the money due from the Center to Tamil Nadu.
The chief minister said that if his party unnecessarily tried to ‘impose politics’ on the matter, which is before a court, it would never succeed, said Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister PK Shekhar Babu. spoke on the matter.
Earlier, when Vanathi Srinivasan raised an issue related to the acquisition of the ‘Ayodhya Mandapam’ temple here (on April 11) by the Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, some of his comments were brushed off by Chairman M Appavu.
He said the action taken was not in compliance with the norms. Here in West Mambalam the ‘Ayodhya Ashwamedha Maha Mandapam’ was run by Sri Rama Samaj.
Responding to him, Shekhar Babu said that complaints of irregularities had been received at Mandapam since 2004 and an inquiry was conducted in 2013. The inquiry report states that the activities in the Mandapam temple are against the provision of HR and CE Act.
Subsequently, a HR and CE executive officer of the nearby temple was appointed to the temple as a ‘thakkar’ (roughly, ‘qualified person’) to oversee the temple’s activities.
When the society approached a court, an injunction was granted by the HR and CE department against the acquisition of the mandapam years ago.
The recent court decision upheld Thakkar’s appointment, the minister said.
When the officials went to Mandapam to enforce the order, it was protested and stones were pelted on the HR and CE officials.
Later, in the presence of the Tehsildar, the administration of the society was taken over by the Human Resources and CE through a person fit.
Shekhar Babu said that a group drives away devotees for spiritual services like ‘Homam’ (havan). The minister clarified that the government has only implemented the court order.
The society has gone on appeal against the takeover by the Human Resources and CE Department and the matter is in court.
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