Protest in Madurai on December 22 Condemning the Sanatana Group Spreading Communal Politics!

Lamp Lighting at Thirupparankundram:

Protest Rally in Madurai on December 22 Condemning the Sanatana Group Spreading Communal Politics! Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi Announcement

Lighting a lamp at the Uchchipillaiyar temple atop Thirupparankundram hill during the month of Karthigai has been a practice in effect for over a hundred years. Instead of this, communal divisive Sanatana forces are raising issues demanding that the lamp be lit near the Sikandar Dargah located on the same hill. A case filed regarding this was dismissed by the High Court in 1996. The court ruled that "the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department will decide where the lamp should be lit." Subsequently, a two-judge bench that heard a case filed in 2014 ruled in 2017 that the lamp should be lit at the customary location. Despite the courts rejecting the Sanatanaists' case twice, the communal group has raised the same demand again through a judge favourable to them, creating a controversy.

Ignoring the judgments already given by the High Court, the procedures followed by the government so far, and the practice adhered to for over a hundred years—the order issued by a single judge to allow the lighting of the lamp near the Dargah, without any legal basis, has now turned into an issue threatening to disrupt law and order in Tamil Nadu. An 'Impeachment' notice has now been given in the Parliament citing the illegal activities of that judge. More than a hundred Members of Parliament from various states of India, including Mr. Rahul Gandhi and Mr. Akhilesh Yadav, have signed it.

After the BJP government took office, it used Governors to paralyze the state governments ruled by the opposition parties. This was finally put to an end by the judgment of two Supreme Court judges. Since the Governors can no longer be used, the Modi government is now attempting to weaponize the judiciary. By interfering in judicial appointments and appointing RSS and BJP-backed individuals as judges, and by using them to deliver judgments against the Constitution, the Modi government is pushing this country towards a very dangerous situation.

It is the duty of democratic forces to protect Tamil Nadu by defeating the communal Sanatana forces that are trying to disrupt religious harmony and peace in Thirupparankundram. Furthermore, it has become necessary to urge the Union Government of India to abolish the currently prevalent 'Collegium' system for judicial appointments and create a new system without political interference.

Based on these two objectives, this protest rally is being organized by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi. We urge all democratic forces to participate in it!