On 13 October 2023, a massive protest was held in Chennimalai, organised by Hindu Munnani and other Hindu organisations. This protest was in response to provocative speeches and attempts made by Christian missionaries, calling for the renaming of Chennimalai to “Yesu Malai” or “Kalvaari Malai.” Thousands of Hindus participated in the protest, proudly waving saffron flags, creating a strong demonstration of their sentiments.
சென்னிமலையைக் காக்க திரண்ட பக்தர்கள் #வெற்றிவேல் #Hindumunnani #சென்னிமலை_காப்போம் pic.twitter.com/tEU3VQnoFc
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) October 13, 2023
The dispute initially arose during a Christian ‘jebakootam’ prayer meeting held in a residential area in Kathakodikkad, leading to confrontations and subsequent legal proceedings against Hindu Munnani members. The situation further escalated when Christian leaders announced their intentions to transform the revered Chennimalai Murugan Temple hill into a Christian site.
கடந்த #அதிமுக ஆட்சிகாலத்தில் திருசெஞ்கோடுகோயிலை தவறாக எழுதியவனை மன்னிப்புகேட்ட வைத்து ஊரில் நுழைய தடை விதித்தது! திமுக ஆட்சி வரும் வரை அவனால் அதனை மீற முடியவில்லை! #சென்னிமலை முருகன்கோயிலை அழிக்க நினைக்கும் துஷ்டர்களுக்கு நிச்சயம் அரசியல் எதிர்காலம் இல்லை! #KonguNadu #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/7m7lOmh1Tg
— Karthik (@skarthikdotin) October 9, 2023
This revelation deeply disturbed the Hindu community, leading to a massive protest against the proposed name changes.
Following this protest, surprisingly the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of South India & North India Missionary Diocese, Gunasekaran Samuel shared a video apologising on behalf of the Christians to Hindus for praying on the Chennimalai Hill.
He said, “Regarding the issue of Chennimalai, I have been watching all the channels. This has caused me a lot of sadness. Especially, dear Christian friends, it was a very wrong thing to go to Chennimalai and pray. They should not have done that. That is the truth. It was a very wrong thing for Christian friends to go to Chennimalai and pray. I sincerely condemn that. That is, it is not mentioned in the Bible that you have to go to the place where others are praying and pray to Jesus. I believe that this was done wantonly. So, this government must take action against such people. This Tamil Nadu government must take action against such people. If the Tamil Nadu government does not take action, it only means that they are hand in glove with them. There is no doubt that the entire Christian community will get the wrong name because of such a thing. So, please understand this. Especially, they say that they are Christian Munnani. That Christian Munnani is a new thing, even our Christians do not know about it. We do not know what it is. That is the truth. Some people say that it is a Christian Munnani and they kept a name for themselves.”
He further said “So, I strongly condemn the hurt caused to members and followers of other religions. The Tamil Nadu government must condemn and also take action against those who are in that Christian Munnani. Their behaviour and actions are affecting the entire Christian community. These people from the Christian Munnani are unnecessarily bringing reasons for communal unrest. I know that someone is helping them from behind. So, I would like to apologise to all my dear brothers and sisters who belong to the Hindu religion. I apologise on behalf of the Christians for this incident that took place using the name of Christians. Please forgive me. We do not need any hatred among us. The government has to take action against those who are unnecessarily trying to create communal unrest in Tamil Nadu, disturb the peace between us, and try to blame the BJP government for it. People from the Hindu Munnani, please forgive us. I apologise on behalf of all the Christians. Please forgive. We would like to accept you as our brothers and sisters. We were all born on the same soil. So let there be no differences between us. I ask again for forgiveness. I will be happy if you tell me that you have forgiven us. What they did was wrong and I strongly condemn it. Yours truly, Archbishop Gunasekaran Samuel.”
A bishop (Gunasekaran Samvel )apologises for the action of the Christuva Munnani and insinuates that there are some forces behind this organisation that is spewing venom on Hindus . Also urges the TN government to take action against such elements . These are the religious… pic.twitter.com/zKASbu1j0M
— karthik gopinath (@karthikgnath) October 17, 2023
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