‘Lord Murugan doesn’t support divisive politics’: TN Minister Sekar Babu slams BJP on Karthigai deepam issue
Chennai, Dec. 27 – Tamil Nadu’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister, P.K. Sekar Babu, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using the controversial lighting of the Karthigai Deepam at the Thirupparankundram hill temple to stoke religious discord. “Lord Murugan himself did not support such divisive politics,” Sekar Babu said during a press briefing.
According to the minister, the BJP sought to exploit the revered Thirupparankundram Murugan temple—one of Lord Murugan’s six sacred abodes (Arupadai Veedu)—to inflame communal tensions. He added that the party was intent on turning the holiday’s traditional rituals into a political weapon, a tactic that, he claimed, would not succeed under the current Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) administration led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
The dispute began when certain groups alleged that the customary illumination of the Karthigai Deepam had been blocked, labeling it an assault on Hindu faith. The BJP then organized protests and accused the state government of interfering in religious customs, turning the matter into a partisan issue.
Sekar Babu clarified that the state had not interfered with religious rites. “All traditional practices were carried out in accordance with temple custom and court orders,” he said. He characterised the BJP’s claims as an attempt to forge a false narrative aimed at provoking communal sentiment. “The people of Tamil Nadu saw through it,” he added.
The minister reiterated that the DMK government remains committed to protecting all religions on an equal footing and to overseeing temples transparently and peacefully. “Our government respects every faith. We will not allow anyone to misuse religion for political gain or disturb communal harmony,” he said.
Sekar Babu stressed that the failure of the controversy to gain traction underscored the unity of Tamil Nadu’s population against divisive politics. “Those who tried to use Lord Murugan’s name for political mileage have been rejected by the people themselves,” he remarked.
He concluded that the state would continue to uphold the principles of social justice, secularism, and harmony, ensuring that religious institutions remain places of faith rather than arenas for political confrontation.
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