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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has unequivocally denied the accusations made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that his government has encroached upon Hindu temples in the state. These claims, made during a speech in Telangana, hinted at financial irregularities and accused the DMK government of taking control of Tamil Nadu’s temples, alleging looting of temple wealth. Stalin dismissed these assertions, attributing them to individuals seeking political advantage by exploiting spiritualism.
Speaking at an event commemorating the 200th birth anniversary of saint Vallalar, Stalin vehemently refuted the allegations and strongly condemned the Prime Minister’s statements. He demanded an explanation from Modi, questioning how someone in a responsible national office could level such erroneous and defamatory allegations.
Stalin also criticized a Tamil newspaper for publishing what he deemed to be a “lie uttered by the Prime Minister.” He emphasized the significant efforts his government had undertaken regarding temples, mentioning the reclamation of temple land worth ₹3,700 crore since coming to power. He defended initiatives like holding consecration ceremonies for 1,000 temples and investing ₹100 crore in refurbishing 112 historic temples, some dating back a thousand years. Stalin also outlined plans for renovating 5,078 temples, including shrines in areas inhabited by SCs and STs, as well as village temples.
The Chief Minister condemned the Prime Minister for “building a false narrative” and questioned why Modi was addressing matters concerning another state while speaking to the people of Telangana. Stalin refrained from naming anyone specifically but criticized individuals attempting to exploit spiritualism for political gain. He emphasized that such tactics would not succeed in Tamil Nadu, where people can differentiate between politics and spirituality.
It’s worth noting that the BJP has consistently argued against government control over temples. Presently, the Tamil Nadu government oversees the administration of 46,086 Hindu and Jain temples, a responsibility transferred to the state government in 1960. Among these, 589 temples have an annual income exceeding ₹10 lakh.
