Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai says DMK provoking IUML MP over Thiruparankundram shrine

BJP Tamil Nadu president accuses DMK of provoking religious issues, condemns IUML MP's actions at Thiruparankundram.

The DMK was provoking the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MP at Thiruparankundram to make it a religious issue, alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai.

Thiruparankundram was one of the six main abodes of Lord Muruga and people were worshipping there for more than 1,000 years. There was no problem there all these years. There was a clear order in 1931 by the privy council, Mr. Annamalai said and added that he planned to end his 48-day vow at Thiruparankundram. The BJP would also launch a major movement based out of Thiruparankundram. “I condemn strongly (the act of the IUML MP K. Navas Kani to eat non-vegetarian food at the hill),” he said.

If a people’s representative, who was an MP, was doing so, the ruling party (DMK) was behind it, he alleged.

On the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperuthagai saying that ceding of Katchatheevu was a political maneuver, Mr. Annamalai said the DMK and the Congress should go door to door and apologise to the public for ceding Katchatheevu and shrinking the boundary of the country and that of the fishermen. “I am confident that the Prime Minister would restore the rights of the Tamil Nadu as he had spoken about the issue in two or three meetings,” he said.

Regarding the proposed greenfield airport at Parandur, Mr. Annamalai said a new airport was needed for Chennai. However, the Chief Minister should focus on the issue and resolve it at the earliest as people were protesting for almost 900 days.

eom/msp