The Hindu Munnani has strongly criticized the Tamil Nadu State Minorities Commission for its public opposition to the Waqf Amendment Act recently passed by Parliament. The organization accused the Tamil Nadu government of selectively supporting minority communities while neglecting the interests of Hindus. It also took aim at the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, questioning its silence when other religious bodies (Waqf board) allegedly interfere in Hindu property matters.
This backlash comes after a recent interview in which State Minorities Commission Chairman Fr. Joe Arun allegedly stated, “We will stand by the Muslims! The State Minorities Commission has expressed its opposition to the Waqf Amendment Act; we will continue to express our opposition. Whenever Muslims engage in protests regarding this, we will stand by them.”
"இஸ்லாமியர்களுக்கு துணை நிற்போம்!”#WaqfAmendmentAct | #Islam #StateMinoritiesCommission | #JoeArun | #Tamilnews | #Livenews | #LiveTamilNews | #TamilNewsLive | #TrendingNews | #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/6ctErbC9TV
— News7 Tamil (@news7tamil) August 6, 2025
Reacting to these remarks, the Hindu Munnani issued a pointed statement, saying, “A dangerous trend where the two foreign religions join hands with injustice. We, the State Minorities Commission, have expressed our opposition to the Waqf Amendment Act. We will continue to oppose it. We will stand by Muslims whenever they engage in protests – Joe Arun, Chairman of the State Minorities Commission. The Tamil Nadu government and the Minorities Commission under it are opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill that was passed in the Parliament. When the Waqf Board claimed ownership of Hindu properties and Hindu temple properties in Iraivan Kadu, Vellore, and Tiruchchendurai near Trichy, did the Tamil Nadu government and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department express any opposition..?”
The statement further accuses the State of exhibiting religious bias and calls on the Hindu community to be vigilant about such developments. It concluded, “Hindus, think about it!!”
அந்நிய மதங்கள் இரண்டும்,
அநீதிக்கு கரம் கோர்க்கும் ஆபத்தான போக்கு..வக்ஃப் திருத்தச் சட்டத்திற்கு எதிராக மாநில சிறுபான்மை ஆணையம் எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்துள்ளோம். தொடர்ந்து எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவிப்போம்.
எப்போதெல்லாம் இஸ்லாமியர்கள் போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபடுகிறார்களோ அப்போதெல்லாம் துணை நிற்போம் -… pic.twitter.com/dxzFygmTWr
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) August 7, 2025
Who Is Fr. Joe Arun?
Rev. Fr. C. Joe Arun, SJ, the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Minorities Commission, was the Director of the Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA).
His earlier stint as Secretary of Loyola College, Chennai, between 2010 and 2012, remains surrounded by controversies that continue to shadow his latest appointment. Notably, he is the only person to have served just two years in this position, instead of the standard three-year term. Sources within the institution allege that he was removed prematurely due to serious accusations of financial misconduct and deviations from Jesuit principles. Though never officially proven, these charges have left a lasting dent in his public image.
Fr. Joe Arun has long been known for his outspoken nature and polarising actions. He has publicly supported the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a stand that has earned both praise and criticism. While at Loyola College, he arranged a media interaction with Seeman, leader of Naam Tamilar Katchi, during which inflammatory remarks were made about the Sri Lankan conflict. This was in line with a broader trend during his leadership, where the college provided space for fringe political groups promoting a separate Tamil Nadu.
In November 2018, during a lecture at the National Conference on “Excellence in Higher Education,” Joe Arun revealed that the Tamil Nadu government had tasked him with helping revise the Social Science syllabus for Classes 1 to 12. He claimed to have incorporated significant elements of Jesuit ideology into the curriculum, particularly in the Class 1 Social Science textbook, which he said contained “only pictures” but embedded messages.
At the 2018 Christmas celebrations organised by Christhuva Nallenna Iyakkam—led by Inigo Irudhayaraj, later elected MLA on a DMK ticket—senior DMK leaders including MK Stalin, KN Nehru, Anbil Mahesh, and controversial priest Ezra Sargunam were present. During the event, Joe Arun delivered a biblical-style prophecy portraying Stalin as divinely ordained to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Drawing parallels to the era before Jesus’s birth, he referenced Isaiah and the First Book of Maccabees, predicting that, in dark times, a man with the DMK’s “sun” symbol and the fortitude to lead—sent by his “father” Karunanidhi—would rise to power and rule.