NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu BJP on Saturday accused state ministers S Ramesh and Aadhav Arjuna of violating temple rules by facilitating the entry of an aide wearing a skull cap into the famous Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai.The BJP alleged that the incident, which took place on Saturday, went against a Madras high court order issued in January 2024 that restricts non-Hindus from proceeding beyond the temple’s flagmast unless they submit an undertaking affirming their faith in the deity and their willingness to follow Hindu customs.The party also claimed that the entry violated the temple’s dress code and religious traditions.
BJP demands apology from ministers
BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy described the incident as a “clear violation” of the court’s directions and accused the ministers of disregarding the rules governing Hindu places of worship.“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 on X.
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He demanded that both ministers issue a public apology and ensure that the High Court’s directions are followed at temples administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department.“Such conduct undermines the legal and traditional framework protecting Hindu temples and sets 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 as per news agency PTI.A video of the incident has circulated widely on social media. In the clip, a devotee can be heard questioning the HR&CE Minister over the grounds for allowing a man wearing a skull cap to enter the historic temple premises.The BJP has argued that the incident raises concerns about compliance with court directions and the rules governing access to Hindu temples.