Hindu organisations have raised objections over access restrictions at the Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, alleging that journalists were denied entry during a recent official inspection while a Muslim man was permitted inside.
According to Hindu Tamilar Katchi leader Ram Ravikumar, ministers including Ramesh and Aadhav Arjuna visited the temple to review preparations for the Karthigai Deepam festival. He said reporters were stopped from entering the temple premises at the time, but a Muslim individual was allowed in, calling the decision unacceptable.
Ravikumar said such actions could affect devotees’ faith and the credibility of temple administration. He demanded that authorities explain why journalists were restricted and on what basis the individual was granted entry.
Temple Worshippers Association president T.R. Ramesh also questioned the presence of a Muslim man with religious identifiers alongside the ministers, linking it to similar concerns earlier raised in Madurai. He alleged the pattern has triggered doubts about whether the government is “testing” changes in temple practices and criticised the HR&CE department’s approach to temple traditions.
The groups have called for a clear response from the authorities regarding the incident and the rules applied during the inspection.
