The hue and cry over CCTV nailed to deity’s face in a Tamil Nadu temple on Friday further escalated with Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai condemning act on a strong note.
A camera was fixed on the face of a sculpture at the Arunachaleshwara temple in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai district which resulted in the idol’s face being disfigured. In a strongly worded statement, Annamalai said that the ruling DMK has no respect for agamas. “A camera was nailed to the face a deity because atheists are managing the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. No one in their right mind would do this. This is a planned action of the DMK as they want to please the minority by creating issues for the majority. Who is going to take responsibility for
this vandalism?” Annamalai asked.
He further added that there is rampant corruption in the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. “Ancient jewellery and ornaments of deities are being melted and turned into gold bars, paving the way for corruption. The DMK is continuously disrespecting spiritual beliefs. It will neither be forgiven by the people nor the gods. The training duration for temple priests has been reduced to a year from five years and it is condemnable,” he said.
DMK is trying to impose their ideology on the traditions and spiritual mutts, the BJP state chief alleged, adding that it is the responsibility of the government to preserve the culture, tradition, belief and the agama rules even if they are atheists.
The BJP state head asserted that the DMK is attempting to force its ideology on traditions and spiritual mutts, adding that it is the duty of the government to uphold agama regulations even if they are atheists.
Devotees were also irked over workers affixing a CCTV camera on the face of an idol.
A total of 55 CCTV cameras have been fixed inside the temple by the police in view of the Karthigai Deepam festival which is expected to draw up to 30 lakh devotees due to the festivities being held for the first time after the pandemic, this year.
As Deepam day, December 6, is also the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid, police “are taking extra precautions to ensure that nothing untoward happens,” an official said.
It was this “extra precaution” which resulted in a CCTV camera being fixed on the face of the Dwara Palaka (guardian deity) on the five storeyed, 70-foot-high Kattai gopouram inside the historic temple. The temple has four main gopurams and 5 smaller gopurams.
When the plaster started crumbling and the face became disfigured, devotees raised a hue and cry resulting in the camera being removed after officials who rushed to the spot inspected the damage and ordered the camera be taken away. The damage to the figurine was also repaired immediately with plaster.
“Will such ill-informed officials be able to do the same in a church or mosque?” Arun Kumar a devotee asked. “Don’t officials understand that such acts hurt the religious sentiments of devotees,” he added.
Asked about this Collector B Murugesh said, “I am yet to look into the matter as arrangements for the Deepam have taken priority as deepam day draws near. However I will instruct temple officials to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.”
