Erode: Goons of a Dravidian outfit tried to stop a consecration ceremony of a temple. The temple is situated on the premises of Erode Corporation Office. They also threatened to demolish the yagyashala situated in front of the office.
The goons belonged to a rabid Dravidian outfit, Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam (DVK). They argued that a secular government should not permit “space like corporation office” for worship and rituals.
They carried banners alleging that the corporation was bringing disrepute to the secular-model of the Dravidian government. Later they tried to bring down the yagyashala by force using crowbars and shovels. Fortunately, the police arrested 12 of them for trying to disturb peace and order.
Why target temples only, not churches?
BJP and Hindu outfits condemned DVK by questioning their inaction against other religious. They said that DVK is an anti Hindu organisation. They dared Dravidars to take action against CSI Church. Especially when a local court has already accused it for encroaching govt land.
“Why don’t they go to the land which a court recently declared as being encroached by CSI Church?” they asked. Former BJP campaign wing secretary Saravanan told this to mediapersons.
The CSI Trust Management is encroaching 12.66 acres of prime land worth Rs 800 crore near Panneerselvam Park in Erode.
The British, in 1905, had leased a part of the property to the London Mission. Later it was taken over by the Church of South India. The CSI gradually encroached on the land around it and built hospitals, and educational institutions among other facilities.
The matter went to the Madras High Court after the Erode Kottai Mariamman Temple Devotees Association filed an intervention petition.
The Landmark judgement
In a significant verdict, the court directed the Tamil Nadu government to recover its lands. It asked govt to identify and retrieve valuable land that British regime had given on lease to private entities. And which continues to be in possession of those entities, either on payment, or even non-payment, of a paltry rent.
Justice M Dhandapani had directed Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary and Revenue Secretary to issue appropriate instructions to the Commissioner of Land Administration as well as the Commission of Land Survey and Settlement to forthwith begin the process of identifying such land and retrieve it from the clutches of the occupiers.
Dravidian outfits have not even bothered to act upon the court orders and take away the disputed land when the government plans an ambitious road project.
Hindu Munnani Erode District President Jagadeesan also challenged the Dravidian goons to demolish the office of Kallakurichi Collector which is standing on temple land. “Let them go and demolish it first,” he protested.
Conspiracy by Stalin?
Saravanan said there is nothing wrong to build temples on government lands because it uses land, money and other temple properties. It is very wrong for DVK members to demolish the yagyashala when the consecration ceremony is ready, he added.
This is the plot of MK Stalin’s government to deflect public criticism against his maladministration, Saravanan added.