Chief Minister Stalin stood firm in protecting communal harmony in Thiruparankundram issue: Sekarbabu

Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) P.K. Sekarbabu on Friday said Chief Minister M.K. Stalin stood firm during the Thiruparankundram Karthigai Deepam row to protect communal harmony by defeating the “conspiracy of Sanghis.”

Speaking at an event titled ‘Tamil Nadu 2030-Kanavugal Meipadum’ (Dreams will come true) in Chennai, he said: “On one side were the courts. On the other side were the Sanghi groups who said they would turn Thirupparankundram into Ayodhya.” He insinuated that the judiciary appeared to have leaned towards the Sanghis.

Mr. Sekarbabu said while government officials and politicians such as him remained restrained, as the matter was sub-judice, he [Mr. Stalin] did not relent. “With a single-minded focus, he declared that communal harmony in Thirupparankundram would be protected and defeated the conspiracy of Sanghis. That is why he was called an ‘Iron Man’,” he said.

He also said that before the DMK came to power in 2021, there was a constant campaign against the party that it was opposed to believers of God. He said by participating in 131 functions organised by the HR and CE Department in the last five years, the Chief Minister had countered that narrative, he added.