Hindu Munnani has urged the Ramanathapuram Municipality to halt plans to demolish the Rajakaali Amman Temple. The group claims the newly formed TVK is emulating past DMK actions by using state resources to target Hindu temples without court orders or official directives. It alleges the move stems from a private complaint by an individual jailed on corruption charges rather than any public petition.
The complaint concerns the legal status of the temple land. Hindu Munnani district president and advocate Ramamurthy stated that the site and surrounding areas were donated in 1968 by Srinivasa Iyengar through proper legal channels. These details appear in settlement records at the District Collectorate, which temple authorities obtained only recently.
A private individual petitioned the Madras High Court, arguing the temple obstructed the area and requesting its removal. The court initially dismissed related petitions due to missing documents. After obtaining the records, a new petition was filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court and heard on June 29.
Counsel argued that no public request for demolition existed and that the action followed a petition from the jailed individual. The municipality has proceeded based on that complaint. The court issued no demolition order, so halting the process would not constitute contempt. A fresh petition with supporting documents remains pending.
Hindu Munnani submitted details to the District Collector and requested suspension of demolition until the court rules.
Separately, the Indian National League, led by state president M. Nagoor Raja, called on Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to erect a memorial for Ahmed Ali, known as Palani Baba, a Muslim activist and founder of the All-India Jihad Committee, who was killed in 1997 near Pollachi.
The group noted that during periods of SIMI activity, the Jihad Committee and Al Umma operated in Tamil Nadu and were linked to communal incidents, including attacks on BJP figures and Hindu Munnani leaders in the 1980s and 1990s.
With one IUML MLA in the cabinet, the outfit is pressing the TVK government on demands such as increasing Muslim reservations in jobs and education. Reports suggest the government appealed a related Supreme Court matter on the Thiruparankundram Deepam case to address these concerns.
Hindu Munnani also plans a protest on July 12 at Thiruvattar Junction in Kanyakumari district against the government’s failure to close churches and other unauthorized worship sites despite court directives. State president Kadeswara Subramaniam will lead the event.
