Chennai: Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai has urged the TVK government to implement the Madras High Court’s order permitting the traditional Karthigai lamp lighting atop Thiruparankundram hill, accusing the state government of delaying the process on political and administrative grounds.
In a statement, Annamalai said lighting the lamp on the hill’s lamp pillar was a long-standing religious tradition linked to devotees’ faith and heritage. He said preventing the practice for political reasons was unacceptable.
He also accused the TVK government of continuing the approach adopted by the previous DMK regime, alleging that the issue was being prolonged to project an anti-religious image.
Referring to the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court’s order, Annamalai said pursuing further appeals and administrative delays instead of implementing the directive undermined the rights of devotees.
He cautioned the government against actions that could trigger unnecessary controversy and disturb communal harmony in Thiruparankundram, where people of different faiths live together.
Annamalai urged the state government to respect the court’s order and ensure that devotees could continue the annual lamp-lighting tradition without further obstruction.
