Controversy erupts as Hindu shrine rules allegedly breached by minister

Chennai, October 17 — A feud has broken out within Tamil Nadu politics after BJP state president Nainar Nagendran accused the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments minister, S. Ramesh, of violating Agamic regulations at the Arunachaleswarar temple in Tiruvannamalai.

Nagendran posted on social media that the minister took a Muslim individual into the temple’s inner hall, directly contravening a Madras High Court order from 2024 that bars non‑Hindus beyond the flag‑staff.

He argued that the minister’s actions undermine the sanctity of Hindu religious institutions and could inflame communal sensitivities, despite the state’s reputation for religious tolerance.

The BJP leader also mentioned the minister’s attendance at an abhishekam at the Meenakshi Amman temple, implying a broader neglect of temple protocols.

He demanded that authorities register a case against the individual who entered the shrine and that the department enforce stricter compliance with traditional rules.

As of now, neither the minister nor the temple management has responded to the complaints.