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BJP slams Tamil Nadu government over media report indicating ban on puja in temples for Lord Ram; state dismisses claim

Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister PK Sekar Babu said the reportage was completely false and had ulterior motives.

South First Desk

Published Jan 21, 2024 | 5:50 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 21, 2024 | 6:09 PM

Ram Mandir Ayodhya Shankaracharya Sringeri Sharada Peetha

Karnataka's Sringeri Sharada Peetha Pontiff Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji will not be attending the consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya on 22 January. (Pic:@ShriRamTeerth)

Citing a Tamil daily’s report, the BJP on Sunday, 21 January, alleged that the Tamil Nadu government-administered temples had banned puja for Lord Ram on the day of the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

However, the claim was dismissed by the state as false news with ulterior motives.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in a post on X, alleged: “TN govt has banned watching live telecast of #AyodhaRamMandir programmes of 22 Jan 24. In TN there are over 200 temples for Shri Ram. In HR&CE managed temples no puja/bhajan/prasadam/annadanam in the name of Shri Ram is allowed. Police are stopping privately held temples also from organising events. [sic]”

She added: “They are threatening organisers that they will rip off pandals. Strongly condemn this anti-Hindu, hateful action [sic].”

Also read: A glimpse into Ram katha traditions, ahead of Ram temple opening

Minister refutes claim

Reacting to the allegation, Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Minister PK Sekar Babu said, “There is no such ban. In temples in Tamil Nadu, the HR & CE Department has not imposed any kind of ban on the conduct of puja for Lord Ram. Also, there is no bar to distribute ‘Annadhanam’ and ‘Prasadam’.”

He added in a social media post: “A rumour is being disseminated to divert people’s attention from the DMK’s youth wing conference, underway now at Salem.”

Further, Sekar Babu dubbed the reportage as completely false and had ulterior motives. He said it was regrettable that Sitharaman, who holds a high office, was circulating such fake news.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai also slammed the DMK for a “blanket ban on conducting special pooja and Annadhana in Temples during Pran Prathikshtha in Ayodhya”.

In a post on X, Annamalai accused the state government of “citing frivolous reasons for rejecting the request to telecast the programme live”.

“Tamil Nadu, a place of historical significance during Ramayana, has now been shadowed by shallow-minded administrators of the state. The HR&CE Minister has now reversed his decision after his misadventure blows back in his face,” he claimed in the post

Also read: ‘Half-day for Ram Temple consecration is against Constitution’

‘Showing their colours’

BJP leader and National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Khushbu Sundar slammed the DMK for being anti-Hindu and showing its true colours.

“When the world is celebrating the arrival of #LordRam , @arivalayam govt comes up with this absurd ban,” she wrote in a post on X.

“They are truly showing their colors to the world of being anti-hindu. What gutless party this has become. 90% of DMKians are God fearing Hindus, yet they will support this nonsensical mindset because they do not possess the courage or guts to oppose this [sic],” she added.

“Dear CM @mkstalin avl, show some spine and say hindu votes do not matter to you. Pls say, “God does not exist.” Let’s see if you have the courage to say it. Do not hide behind a mask to show your incompetent governance and water thin, loose nerve [sic],” she further said.

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