Minister Sekarbabu announces failure of attempts to incite religious conflict over lamp lighting at Thirupparankundram

DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by NDTV, click this post to read the full article.

On Saturday, P.K. Sekarbabu, the Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments in Tamil Nadu, addressed attempts to incite conflict between religions regarding the lighting of a lamp atop Thirupparankundram hill in Madurai. He emphasized that these attempts were unsuccessful and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to respecting court orders and maintaining law and order. Sekarbabu highlighted the state’s goal of preventing caste and religious conflicts, referencing various court rulings that have established the traditional location for the Karthigai deepam lighting.

He stated that peace is the true spiritual path and criticized those who seek to create unrest for political gain. Sekarbabu asserted that under Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s leadership, divisive elements would not be tolerated and would be dealt with decisively. He expressed confidence in the government’s ability to uphold the rule of law through appropriate legal measures.

Furthermore, Sekarbabu accused the AIADMK party of hypocrisy, alleging that they have shifted their stance based on instructions from Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He pointed out that the AIADMK had previously filed court affidavits opposing the lighting of the lamp at an alternative site, yet now they are demanding the government permit this action. This inconsistency, he argued, reflects a departure from their principles in favor of aligning with the BJP.