Don't convert temples, order judicial probe: BJP

CHENNAI: Expressing shock over the fire accident at the renowned Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwar temple, Madurai, BJP state president Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan alleged that the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department was converting temples into commercial centres and had scant regard for security. She demanded a judicial probe into the incident.

"Many temples in TN, which are religious places of worship, are being converted into commercial centres. The HR and CE is not protecting the temples nor is it taking steps to protect them", she alleged and added that the department was "apathetic" to the security measures in temples. Claiming that the over 400-year-old temple mandapam, which is a symbol of heritage has survived as it was built in the past, she said some stone sculptures however suffered damage on account of the blaze.

She asked the HR and CE department authorities to survey all the temples and take up security measures at the temples. 

“Also, steps should be taken to prevent the conversion of temples into commercial centres. We demand an impartial judicial probe. We are getting information that even non-Hindus are running the shops inside the temple premises. 

Temples should remain as temples and not as commercial centres," she said.
 Suspecting foul play in the fire mishap at the temple, party's national secretary H. Raja demanded a thorough enquiry into the accident by also taking into account the video footage which raised suspicion over the behaviour of three persons.

Party's MP Subramanian Swamy also sought of the authorities a probe into the conspiracy angle to the temple fire incident.

Tamilisai dares Stalin to list out DMK’s schemes for TN

Lashing out at the DMK for criticising the Union Budget, Dr. Tamilisai dared DMK working president M. K. Stalin to list out the schemes implemented for the welfare of Tamil Nadu when his party was in power.

Speaking to reporters here, she said, "Stalin has said TN has been ignored in the Union Budget. Only during their regime, an industrial park was ignored in Nanguneri. It is now coming up there thanks to the sincere efforts of central ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Pon Radhakrishnan.” 

She said the Centre has given nod for a new train coach factory at Perambur in Chennai, granted permission to IIT-Madras to carry out research and testing on new technologies and handed over '2,400 crore to eight lakh farmers in TN under the crop insurance scheme.

"Can you name a single scheme that you brought for TN when you shared power with the Centre during the Congress-led UPA regime?" she asked.