At least five children belonging to the Narikuravar community were allegedly denied participation in a free meal organised inside the Nellaiappar Temple on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, to mark the death anniversary of former Tamil Nadu chief minister CN Annadurai. The incident sparked outrage after a video clip of one of the children narrating the incident to an activist went viral on social media.
Children were threatened when they entered the temple to have a meal pic.twitter.com/hXAAMw1pDi
— Thinakaran Rajamani (@thinak_) February 3, 2026
According to reports, a man suspected to be a staff member of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department allegedly threatened a group of children, warning them that they would be beaten if they entered the temple to partake in the meal. The alleged incident occurred even as Speaker M Appavu, Tirunelveli Mayor G Ramakrishnan, and senior HR&CE officials were present inside the temple and participating in the annadhanam.
Children of Narikuravar community were allegedly not allowed to partake in the free meal organised inside the Nellaiyappar Temple to mark former CM Annadurai’s death anniversary. Following this, an activist arranged meals for the disappointed children at a nearby hotel.… pic.twitter.com/YXzKf78K1Z
— Thinakaran Rajamani (@thinak_) February 3, 2026
After the children recounted the alleged threat to an activist, he reportedly took them to a nearby hotel and bought them food.
The incident triggered sharp political reactions. In a strongly worded statement, the AIADMK said the reported denial of food and temple entry to children from a marginalised community on Annadurai’s memorial day was “deeply shocking.” The statement accused the present administration of practising “modern untouchability” and questioned how such an incident could occur in a state that has historically witnessed temple entry movements and claims a legacy of social justice and equality.
The statement further said that watching the video of a young girl tearfully explaining how the children were threatened was distressing, and described the incident as an extreme form of contemporary discrimination. It also questioned how such an incident could take place in the presence of the Assembly Speaker, demanding explanations from both the Speaker and the government, and calling for a public apology.
திருநெல்வேலி நெல்லையப்பர் திருக்கோயிலில் பேரறிஞர் அண்ணா நினைவு நாளையொட்டி நடைபெற்ற, சபாநாயகர் அப்பாவு பங்கேற்ற அன்னதானத்தில் நரிக்குறவர் சமூகத்தைச் சேர்ந்த சிறுவர்களுக்கு பங்கேற்கவோ, கோயிலுக்குள் நுழையவோ அனுமதி மறுக்கப்பட்டதாக வரும் செய்தி மிகுந்த அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கிறது.
சமநிலை… pic.twitter.com/jtKBj4iJgL
— AIADMK – SayYesToWomenSafety&AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) February 3, 2026
Joint Director of the HR&CE Department Kavitha told reporters that an inquiry would be conducted to identify who denied entry to the children and to ascertain the facts surrounding the incident.
Source: The New Indian Express
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