Don’t succumb to religious elements, says Vanni Arasu on Thiruparankundram deepam issue

Chennai: Social justice minister Vanni Arasu on Sunday urged the Tamil Nadu govt to remain firm on the Thiruparankundram deepam issue and not succumb to the pressure from “religious fringe elements” seeking to politicise the controversy.

State units of CPI and CPM also backed the govt’s stand that the practice of lighting the karthigai deepam lamp at Uchipillayar temple atop the hillock, which was followed for years, would continue.

CPI state secretary M Veerapandian urged the government not to dilute its position and to uphold secularism and social justice.

CPM state secretary P Shanmugam called on the govt to remain committed to people’s unity and communal harmony without yielding to pressure from divisive forces.

In a post on X, Vanni Arasu said TVK govt should to continue its legal battle to protect the long-standing practice of lighting the deepam at the Uchipillayar temple and not succumb to pressure from right wing organisations to light the lamp on the pillar near the dargah.

“The people of Tamil Nadu have already rejected these fringe elements. The govt also should reject them,’’ he said.

His remarks comes after state energy resources minister R Nirmal Kumar said TVK administration would follow the approach adopted by the previous DMK govt.

Vanni Arasu accused BJP and Sangh Parivar organisations of attempting to mobilise people in the name of religion for political purposes.

He alleged that the groups had shown little concern for the social, educational and economic advancement of backward Hindu communities or for securing social justice, but were now seeking to create divisions through religious issues.