Former AIADMK minister Sellur Raju has accused Ramanathapuram MP Navas Kani of fueling the controversy surrounding the Thiruparankundram hill dargah issue. Speaking to reporters, Raju claimed that the situation escalated only after Navas Kani visited the site and conducted an inspection. He also alleged that the ruling DMK was attempting to shift the blame onto AIADMK.
The issue has sparked widespread debate in Tamil Nadu, prompting Madurai District Collector Sangeetha to issue a statement explaining the developments. She outlined the sequence of events that led to the controversy and confirmed that a peace meeting was held on 30 January 2025 under the chairmanship of the Thirumangalam Revenue Commissioner. Representatives from various parties attended the meeting, where all except the AIADMK delegate agreed to maintain the existing worship practices and prevent external interference.
Following the district administration’s statement, AIADMK leaders, including Rajan Chellappa, Sellur Raju, and R.P. Udayakumar, submitted a formal petition to District Collector Sangeetha, demanding that the report be withdrawn. Addressing the media, Raju insisted that the controversy gained prominence only after MP Navas Kani’s visit and accused the DMK government of negligence in handling religious matters.
“The DMK government takes action only after incidents escalate. There has never been a religious conflict in Madurai before, but now the District Collector is being made a scapegoat,” he alleged. He further asserted that AIADMK, having governed Tamil Nadu for 31 years, would abide by any court ruling on the matter.
Raju also criticized Navas Kani, who chairs the Waqf Board, stating that he had no reason to conduct a direct investigation into the matter. He said, “He is a representative of the people. It has become such a big issue because he got involved in it. So many Waqf Board heads have come, have they gone there in person to inspect?” AIADMK leaders have warned that if the District Collector does not withdraw her statement, they will seek legal recourse.
(With inputs from One India Tamil)
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