In a recent development, K. S. Alagiri, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president, has expressed strong criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement regarding the state government’s control over temples. Alagiri’s response comes in the wake of a contentious issue that has sparked debates over the role of the government in managing religious institutions.Alagiri began by asserting that temples under government control have been operating efficiently and have become more accessible to all segments of society. This statement appears to be in defense of the existing system of temple administration under state supervision.
He also highlighted significant achievements during the two years of the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) regime. According to Alagiri, temple lands that may have been under dispute or misappropriated were successfully recovered during this period. Most notably, he emphasized that the dream of E.V. Ramasamy Periyar, a prominent social reformer, had been realized as individuals from all castes were now able to serve as priests in temples. This is seen as a milestone in promoting social inclusivity and equality within the religious sphere.
He strongly condemned Modi’s remarks, suggesting that they were divisive and unwarranted. Alagiri accused the Prime Minister of attempting to use religious sentiments to further the BJP’s influence in the state, implying that such tactics would not succeed.