In a development that has sparked outrage among the local community and Hindu organizations, an idol of Lord Vinayaka was reportedly removed from the residence of the Pudukottai District Collector after the newly appointed IAS officer Mercy Ramya took charge.
The decision to remove the idol was allegedly made by the District Collector, who follows the Christian faith, leading to accusations of religious insensitivity.
The Ganesha idol in front of the official government residence of the Pudukottai Collector has been for quite some time with some sources mentioning it to be over six decades old. Even collectors of different faiths who resided there in the past did not order its removal.
The recent appointment of Mercy Ramya as the new Collector of Pudukottai, replacing Kavitha Ramu IAS in a recent administrative shuffle by the DMK government, has brought this issue to the forefront. While Mercy Ramya has not yet taken up residence in the government accommodation, reports suggest that she ordered the removal of the Lord Ganesha statue before occupying the premises.
Following her instructions, the Ganesha statue was reportedly removed yesterday. It has been reported that the statue was damaged when the idol was being shifted. As news of the incident spread, Hindu organizations expressed their strong condemnation of Collector Mercy Ramya’s decision, emphasizing that the government residence is not her personal space and therefore her actions were deemed inappropriate.
Hindu organizations have criticized the removal of the Lord Ganesha statue, viewing it as a manifestation of deep-rooted animosity towards the Hindu religion. They argue that this incident highlights a lack of understanding and respect for religious sentiments.
In response, the residents of the Collector’s residence have clarified that the Lord Ganesha statue has been temporarily relocated to facilitate ongoing renovation work in the bungalow, refuting any intention of disrespect.
புதுக்கோட்டை மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் அவர்களின் முகாம் அலுவலகத்தில் விநாயகர் சிலை அகற்றப்படும்போது உடைந்து விட்டதாக தவறான தகவலை வாட்ஸ்அப் மூலம் பரப்பப்பட்டு வருகிறது. வாட்ஸ்அப்பில் வந்த செய்தியில் உண்மை இல்லை. சிலை தொண்மையானதன்று. உடையாமல் நல்ல நிலையில் உள்ளது.
அரசியலமைப்புசட்டத்தின்படி,… pic.twitter.com/MzSwnYcoIF
— District Collector, Pudukkottai (@pdkt_collector) June 3, 2023
The controversy has further escalated, with local leaders and party members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staging a protest in front of the Collector’s residence, expressing their solidarity with the sentiments of the Hindu community. Following the demonstration, the Ganesha statue was reinstated inside the residence. Even though the Ganesha idol was installed inside the Collector’s residence, it has been relocated from its original location.
(with inputs from Hindu Tamil)
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