MADURAI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded for a judicial enquiry by a sitting High Court judge into the whole incident that happened at Tirupparankundram temple in Madurai yesterday evening including the alleged police lathi-charge on Hindu devotees who came for lighting the ‘Karthigai Deepam’ atop the sacred Hill.
In a press statement issued last night, BJP National co in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Dr.Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy has said that the actions of DMK government have raised serious concerns among Hindu devotees and people of the State who adhere to ‘Sanatan Dharma’.
“The deployment of a large police contingent at Tirupparankundram temple on December 3rd 2025 to prevent devotees from carrying out the centuries-old religious practice of traditional lighting of ‘Karthigai Deepam’ atop the Hill has caused widespread distress. The State government and its HR & CE Department are bound to follow the High Court orders, but they chose to appeal against a judicial order on the day of ‘Karthigai Deepam’ when devotees thronged the temple,” he said while lashing out at the DMK government in his press statement last night.
Dr.Sudhakar Reddy had pointed out that respect for religious sentiments is protected under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India, and so the people of Tamil Nadu seek a clear explanation from the Tamil Nadu government as to why the ‘Karthigai Deepam’ ritual was not allowed despite getting permission from the court.
“People want to know whether similar restrictive measures are uniformly applied for all other religions when such situations took place. The State is bound to ensure fundamental right of the people to freely practice their religion. It is hoped that the Tamil Nadu government will address the people’s concerns and restore public confidence on religious freedom and Constitutional guarantees,” the BJP leader has said while demanding a judicial probe.
