In an attempt to usurp the sacred Hindu site of Thiruparankundram Temple hill and destroy its sanctity, DMK ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) member and Ramanathapuram MP Navas Kani, who also holds the position of chairman of the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, shared a controversial social media post that showed Muslim individuals eating non-vegetarian biryani near the temple entrance at the foothills of Thirupparankundram Hills.
This has sparked strong backlash from both netizens and Hindu activists, who view the post as an attempt to provoke religious discord in the area, with fears that it could escalate into violent unrest between the Hindu and Muslim communities in the locality and urged the government and Madurai administration to intervene.
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 near the temple entrance at the foothills of Thirupparankundram Hills. This statement, along with the image, has sparked significant outrage, with critics accusing Kani of intentionally provoking religious tensions in the region.
மதுரை சிக்கந்தர் மலை தர்கா விவகாரம் தொடர்பாக இன்று நேரில் சென்று கள ஆய்வு செய்தோம்.
மதுரை மாநகர காவல் ஆணையரை சந்தித்து பிரச்சனையின்றி சுமுகமாக கடந்த காலங்களில் எப்படி இருந்ததோ அதேபோல நல்லிணக்கத்துடன் அனைத்து மக்களும் சென்று வர நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும் என வலியுறுத்தினோம்.… pic.twitter.com/vkcO6xydou— K.NavasKani MP (@KNavaskani) January 22, 2025
The post sparked a wave of anger among netizens, who severely condemned Ramanathapuram MP Navas Kani for provoking Hindu sentiments.
Backdrop
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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