BJP state president K Annamalai has raised concerns over the alleged mishandling of Union Minister of State L Murugan’s security during his visit to the Thiruparankundram Temple in Madurai. In a letter addressed to Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) Shankar Jiwal on Wednesday, Annamalai sought an explanation for what he described as an unacceptable security lapse.According to Annamalai, the minister faced unwarranted restrictions and heckling by police personnel at the temple entrance, despite his travel itinerary being pre-approved by the Tamil Nadu police. “The itinerary included visits to both the Arulmigu Subramaniya Swami Temple and the Arulmigu Kasi Viswanathar Temple on the Thiruparankundram hill,” Annamalai stated in his letter.
Expressing his deep disapproval, the BJP leader claimed that Murugan was denied entry to the temple, with police officials citing orders from the “high command.” He termed this a blatant misuse of police authority, stating that it infringed upon the minister’s fundamental right to worship.
“This was a misuse of the power vested in the police, depriving an MP and a Union Minister of his right to worship at a place of his choice,” Annamalai asserted.
The former IPS officer further highlighted that the incident has sparked doubts about the state’s policing standards and their ability to protect the general public. Raising a serious question, he asked, “If a Member of Parliament and a Union Minister can be heckled in such a manner, what is the state of the common people in our state?”
The controversy has intensified the ongoing political friction between the BJP and the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, with the BJP accusing the state government of bias in law enforcement. The Tamil Nadu police are yet to issue an official response regarding the allegations.