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Palani temple funds and the DMK controversy

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sakkarapani’s statement that an oxygen production center at a cost of ₹2 crore will be set up on behalf of the Palani Dandayuthapani temple has caused a stir, amid strong opposition since the donations previously made to corona patients using the temple fund had DMK emblems and party symbols on the donations.

During the AIADMK regime, the government sent a circular asking for ₹10 crore for corona relief work from the funds of large temples. Criticisms arose as to whether the government would use the temple funds only for this purpose, as many temples did not even have the funds to perform basic rituals. The court ruled that the temple property should not be used for any other purpose other than temple development and related activities. The controversial circular was subsequently withdrawn. The newly-elected DMK government has announced a new scheme to provide food to one lakh people daily through the HR&CE Department so that it cannot directly touch the temple funds.

Accordingly, aid is being distributed on behalf of the temples to corona patients, other patients, their relatives and sometimes, even to the medical staff who are treated in government hospitals. During the distribution, banners were placed with the DMK flag and emblem, along with DMK leader Stalin and HR&CE Minister Sekar Babu.

Hindu organizations and social activists, including the Hindh Munnani, demanded that pictures of the respective temples be displayed, as well as images of the temple’s deity, to show that these emergency aid and alms were given through the temples themselves. In this situation, it has been rumoured that a ₹2 crore oxygen manufacturing center will be set up on behalf of the Palani temple as the issue is still unresolved.

An Oxygen Center was set up at the Palani Government Hospital at an estimated cost of ₹33 lakhs on behalf of the Palani Chamber of Commerce. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sakkarapani who attended the inauguration ceremony, said that an oxygen production center at an estimated cost of ₹2 crore would soon be set up on behalf of the Palani Dandayuthapani Swami Temple.

While there is nothing wrong with temples funding or donating in this crisis situation where the entire world is suffering from a pandemic, these decisions should be made by the temple administrations and made known to all that they are done by the temples themselves as part of the services of the temples. But because they are controlled by the state, devotees are enraged that the state is making arbitrary decisions and turn them into party work and seek publicity.

A temporary solution would be for the court to order that temple funds not be used for anything other than religious worship activities, just as the temple property should not be used for any purpose other than worship.

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