Tirupparankundram peaceful, outsiders trying to disrupt peace

Former Madras High Court judge D. Hariparanthaman addresses outsiders disrupting peace in Tirupparankundram, highlighting court orders and political interference.

Though the Tirupparankundram issue had already been settled by court orders, outsiders were trying to disrupt peace in the area by making an issue out of it, said former Madras High Court judge justice D. Hariparanthaman.

Addressing a press meet in Madurai on Friday, he said that there was no issue between the residents of Tirupparankundram. Referring to the court judgments that were passed with regard to the issue, he said that the Sikkandar hill and the Skandar hill made the Tirupparnkundram hill.

However, Tirupparankundran hill as a Jain site was not being discussed, he said, adding that there were references for the same. The people of Tirupparankundram were living peacefully and had no issue.

However, outsiders made it a political issue, he said.

Referring to The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, he said that the law was enacted to freeze the status of all places of worship in the country as on August 15, 1947 with an exception made to the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute.

He said that animal sacrifice was also part of the rituals in some Hindu temples like kadhu kuthu (ear-piercing ceremony) and keda virundhu. Referring to the practice at Kamakhya temple in Assam, he said that there was animal sacrifice. The BJP was in power in Assam, he said.

Retired archaeologist C. Santhalingam spoke of Tirupparankundram hill as a Jain site and the presence of Jainism and the origin of the Hindu temple. Advocate S. Vanchinathan also spoke at the press meet.