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Hindu Munnani Defies DMK Govt To Protest Against Alleged Mismanagement Of Temples, Condemns Illegal Arrest Of Its Cadres

The Commune
Hindu Munnani, Sekar Babu and MK Stalin

Hindu Munnani protestors harassed by TN Police as they criticized DMK-led regime for mismanaging Hindu Temples

Hindu Munnani leader Kadeswara Subramaniam strongly criticized the DMK government in Tamil Nadu, accusing it of fostering a dictatorial regime through undemocratic actions. His condemnation comes in response to the government’s interference with a planned statewide protest on 21 July 2024, organized by Hindu Munnani to protest the government’s mismanagement of temples.

Despite announcing the protest two weeks in advance, the police denied permission at the last minute, leaving no time for legal recourse. Undeterred, Hindu Munnani proceeded with the demonstration, targeting the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department and the DMK government. The protesters were met with arrests, mistreatment, and demands for identification.

In an official statement, Kadeswara Subramaniam declared, “Government that destroys only temples! Get out of the temple!!” On 21-7-24 (Sunday) on 21-7-24 (Sunday) massive protest demonstrations were planned and made on behalf of the Hindu Munnani across Tamil Nadu to condemn the anti-Hindu activities of the DMK government ruling Tamil Nadu and to demand that the Tamil Nadu government, which claims to be a secular government, should leave Hindu temples.” 

“In order to inform the police about these demonstrations, permission petitions were given to the concerned police stations to keep loudspeakers (mic sets) by the officials in the respective areas before last 15 days. The officials of the respective police stations who received the petitions issued a copy of the letter stating that the protest was not allowed on the midnight of 20th and early morning on the date of the protest on the 21st. No consideration has been given to the fundamental rights of every citizen under the Constitution of India to express their views, to protest against the government and to assemble at a place for that purpose,” the statement read.

“The Tamil Nadu Police, acting as a proxy department in the DMK’s regime with their autocracy and giving an illegal order, disrupted the demonstration that was to be held in a democratic way across Tamil Nadu yesterday (21-7-24). The unconstitutional and anti-democratic act of the Tamil Nadu Police is strongly condemned. The police do not have any powers to ban protests and demonstrations by the public, without legal reasons, and to prevent them from favoring the authoritarian ruling party. It seems that the Tamil Nadu DMK government, which is acting with the intention of taking away even these basic rights, wants to bury the democratic rights and stabilize its dictatorial rule,” the statement further read.

“It is well known that Tamil Nadu’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department and Sekar Babu its minister showcase themselves to be some kind of human saints and act as if they are implementing welfare programs targeting only the temples that can generate more income. In thousands of temples in Tamil Nadu, there is not even a pooja being held, and there is a situation they can’t even light for the idols of God that housed in the temple. But at the same time, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department of the Tamil Nadu Government has taken into account only the income that can come from the thousands of temples in Tamil Nadu. This government has not taken any effort to maintain unworshipped temples without lighting. Similarly, the HR&CE Minister did not take any effort to protect the temples and spread the fame and growth of Hindu religion,” the statement added.

“Hindu devotees are forced to pay darshan in every temple to visit the deity. Starting from leaving sandals outside the temple, the charge for ordination, the charge for shaving the hair, the charge for lighting the lamp, wherever you turn inside the temple the bills placed on behalf of the HR&CE department, the three tiers, four types of charges for visiting God like in a cinema theater. When you look at all these, it is obvious that the HR&CE department’s intention is to rob the pilgrims by taking money from their shirt pockets than protecting the temples. The activities of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department are such as to create a situation where no Hindu should come to worship the god in temple,” the statement further added.

“The DMK government and the Minister of HR&CE Sekar Babu have abused their powers and forced the police under them to ban the demonstration of Hindu Munnani that aimed to condemn these dire conditions, by giving orders to strangle the voice of democracy. The protestors arrested by the police were not escorted properly and were pushed into crowded buses. Also, the basic facilities for natural causes in the sheltered areas were not maintained. Also arrangements for drinking water, food etc. were neglected. They have forcefully arrested undemocratically to get Aadhaar card, finger print details, etc. This is a fascist trend of DMK. When asked about such intimidation they diverted saying it was under the new criminal law. While the DMK government is opposing the new criminal law, the drama is playing out that the police will implement it. Further, it also shows that the police have misunderstood the new criminal law. Who is the criminal? Depicting those who fight democratically for the welfare of society as criminals seems to be a mental illness of the police. This is a blatant abuse of power,” the statement further further added.

“The Hindu Munnani strongly condemns the illegal arrest and the police who refused permission to the public demonstration and Tamil Nadu DMK government and the Minister of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department Sekar Babu for forced them.” 

Some of the Protests across the State

 

 

 

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