A church was allegedly constructed illegally on land belonging to the Public Works Department in Parukambattu village, Tiruvenney Nallur taluk, Villupuram district. While authorities face resistance from the local Christians in removing the structure, Hindu Munnani accused the Tamil Nadu government of applying different standards to religious structures.
The party said the DMK government has a history of demolishing Hindu temples, claiming that they were built on public land. However, these officials are reluctant to act against an illegal church built on a canal.
Villupuram Christians Protest For Illegal Church
In response to efforts to remove the structure, the local Christian community has staged protests at the district collector’s office, demanding that the church not be demolished. This protest has resulted in delays from the Villupuram district administration in addressing the issue.
The situation has sparked criticism, especially in light of the Tamil Nadu government’s earlier actions to demolish Hindu temples located in public spaces under the guise of enforcing regulations. However, there seems to be a reluctance to apply the same standards to Christian churches. This disparity has raised questions about fairness and consistency in the government’s approach.
Hindu Munnani
Hindu Munnani has questioned the government’s double standards in dealing with encroachments.
“The Tamil Nadu government, which demolished Hindu temples in many places claiming they were in government land, refuses to dispose of the Church now. Why is the government refusing to demolish the church illegally built by encroaching a canal?” Hindu Munnani questioned.
ஆக்கிரமிப்பு எனக்கூறி, இந்துகோவில் என்றால் உடனே இடித்து அகற்றும் திராவிட மாடல் அரசு…
கிறிஸ்தவ சர்ச்க்கு மட்டும் சலுகையா…?விழுப்புரம் மாவட்டம், திருவெண்ணெய் நல்லூர் தாலுகா, பருகம்பட்டு கிராமத்தில் சட்டத்திற்கு புறம்பாக பொதுப்பணித்துறைக்கு சொந்தமான இடத்தில் கிறிஸ்தவ சர்ச் pic.twitter.com/0N5VmPg3eB
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) August 17, 2024
There have been many instances where Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu have been taken down. Authorities claim that these temples were encroaching on public land.
DMK Demolished Antique Temples
In June 2024, authorities demolished a Pillaiyar (Vinayaka) Temple on Gandhi Road in Kallakurichi amid heavy police presence. They razed it down despite opposition from the local community. This act was backed by a Madras High Court order directing the removal of 36 encroachments, including several buildings and temples along the canal.
For over a decade, three temples—Angalamman, Kurathi Amman, and Periyayi Amman—had stood in the Vazhudareddy Colony area of Villupuram. Two years ago, these temples were constructed and consecrated with Kumbabhishekam ceremonies.
However, in May 2024, authorities demolished the temples, which had been built allegedly infringing on a cemetery area, following a court order based on a case filed by one Argoiyasamy.
In April 2024, authorities demolished the half-century-old Nagathamman temple in Maduravoyal, Chennai, following a directive from the High Court.
The 400-year-old Ammani Ammal Mutt was reportedly razed down and destroyed by the Tamil Nadu HR&CE department in Tiruvannamalai on March 18, 2023, while clearing encroachments on Mutt-owned land.
The DMK government demolished a Shivan temple in Sriperumbudur because it was built on government land. However, a Church encroaching on the Kilkattalai surplus water canal, marked a few years ago by IAS officer Amudha, had still not been demolished by the government, because of which residents of the area suffered from water logging in 2021.
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