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Hindus Call For Boycott Of ST Courier Run By DMK-Ally IUML MP Nawas Kani Who Went With Islamists To Have Non-Veg Food At Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple Hill

January 23, 2025
The Commune

On 22 January 2025, Ramanathapuram MP and DMK ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) member Navas Kani, who also holds the position of chairman of the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, shared a controversial social media post that showed Muslims eating non-vegetarian food near the temple entrance at the foothills of Thiruparankundram Hills.

In a social media post on 22 January 2025, Ramanathapuram MP Navas Kani via his official x account stated, “We went to Madurai today to conduct a field inspection regarding the Sikkandar hills Dargah issue. We met the Madurai City Police Commissioner and stressed that steps should be taken to ensure that all people can visit the Dargah in harmony and without any problems, just as they did in the past. We have also spoken to the District Collector in this regard. As an example of harmony, there is a Dargah and a Kashi Vishwanathar temple there. People of all religions visit the Dargah. Therefore, we have urged that all steps be taken quickly to resolve these problems without causing unnecessary inconvenience to the people who visit there.” 

He further said “When we spoke to the Police Commissioner in this regard, he explained that there is no ban on carrying food, but are discussing about the possible ban on carrying goats and chickens. After the Police Commissioner said that there is no ban on carrying cooked non-vegetarian food, people took cooked non-vegetarian food and ate it. All the restrictions will be removed soon and all steps will be taken to ensure that people can visit the Dargah without any difficulty, as they did in the past.”

In this controversial social media post, he shared photos of individuals eating non-vegetarian food at the foothills of the sacred Thirupparankundram Hills. This statement, along with the image, has sparked significant outrage, with critics accusing Kani of intentionally provoking religious tensions in the region.

Hindus Call For Boycott Of ST Courier

Incidentally, Navas Kani is also one of the directors of a popular courier company in Tamil Nadu, ST Courier. He runs this company with his elder brother Ansari.

Hindus who noticed the wantonly inflammatory post made by Navas Kani called for the boycott of ST Courier. Here are a few netizen reactions.

Tada Rahim, Indian National League (INL) leader, accused Navas Kani of indulging in hawala transactions.

Background

The sacred Hindu site of Thirupparankundram Hills is facing growing tension, with controversial actions by a Muslim politician fueling divisive rhetoric. Indian Union Muslim League member and Ramanathapuram MP Navas Kani, who also serves as the chairman of the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, has claimed that the dargah at the hilltop is Waqf property. This statement has sent shockwaves through the region and intensified existing tensions.

This development is part of a series of incidents that have strained relations between Hindus and Muslims, who had previously lived in harmony. Some Islamists groups have been attempting to assert their rights to conduct animal sacrifices at the hilltop, furthering their claims that the entire Thirupparankundram Hills should be recognized as Sikkandar Hills.

The situation escalated on 27 December 2024, when Madurai police intervened to detain a group of Muslims family attempting to bring goats and roosters to the hilltop dargah for ritual sacrifice. Syed Abu Dahir, a 53-year-old from Malaiyadipatti in Rajapalayam, arrived with his family and animals for the ceremony but was stopped by authorities at the base of the hill. Police informed them that bringing livestock up the hill was prohibited, which led to a protest by over 20 local Muslims at the foot of the hill in solidarity with the family.

The following week, on 5 January 2025, another large group of Muslim protesters gathered at Thirupparankundram Hills, demanding permission to offer prayers at the mosque located at the top. When the police denied their request, tensions escalated, leading to a brief scuffle and the detention of the protesters.

On 17 January 2025, during the Santhanakoodu Festival at a nearby dargah, social media posts began circulating about an upcoming “Equality Feast” (Samabanthi Bhojan) on 18 January at the hilltop dargah, where goats and roosters were allegedly to be sacrificed. Fearing communal unrest, police set up barricades and conducted searches to prevent the transportation of livestock to the hill. When the dargah Jamath was informed that animal sacrifices were not allowed, protests broke out. Members of the Jamath, along with other Muslim protesters, clashed with the police, causing further disruptions.

The situation was exacerbated by the involvement of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), an ally of AIADMK and a group linked to the banned terror outfit PFI. These elements are believed to be behind the attempts to conduct animal sacrifices at the sacred Thirupparankundram Hill.

Furthering tensions, on 21 January 2025, DMK Manapparai MLA Abdul Samad was accused of conducting an illegal survey around the temple with intentions to gain control of the hill. On the same day, IUML member and Ramanathapuram MP Navas Kani was seen giving an interview near the Thirupparankundram Hills. When asked whether the dargah at the hilltop was under the Waqf Board, Kani confirmed, “Yes, it is under the control of the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board,” further heightening tensions in the area.

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