TN Govt denies allegations of temples banning puja for Shri Ram amidst Nirmala Sitharaman's claims

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently made allegations, based on a report from a Tamil daily, claiming that the Tamil Nadu government-administered temples had banned puja for Lord Ram on the day of the consecration of the grand temple in Ayodhya.

The Finance Minister, in a social media post, accused the state of prohibiting the live telecast of Ayodhya Ram Mandir programs and restricting religious activities in over 200 temples dedicated to Shri Ram. However, the Tamil Nadu government swiftly refuted these claims, labeling them as false news with ulterior motives.

Denial from Tamil Nadu Government: No Ban on Temple Activities


Quoting Minister P K Sekar Babu: Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister, P K Sekar Babu, dismissed the allegations, stating, "In temples in Tamil Nadu, the HR & CE Department has not imposed any kind of ban for the conduct of puja for Lord Ram. Also, there is no bar to distribute 'Annadhanam' and 'Prasadam.'" He further suggested that these rumors were intended to divert attention from the ongoing youth wing conference of the DMK in Salem, terming the reportage as completely false and driven by ulterior motives.



Finance Minister's Accusations: Strong Condemnation of Alleged Anti-Hindu Actions

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her social media post, strongly condemned what she described as "anti-Hindu, hateful action" by the Tamil Nadu government. She claimed that in HR & CE managed temples, no puja, bhajan, prasadam, or annadanam in the name of Shri Ram was allowed.

Sitharaman also asserted that privately held temples were being stopped from organizing events, with the police threatening to dismantle pandals. The Union Minister labeled the Tamil newspaper's report, which she shared, as evidence of the alleged ban.


Clarification Amidst Controversy

In the midst of the controversy, Tamil Nadu authorities stand firm in their denial, emphasizing that there is no ban on temple activities related to Lord Ram. Minister Sekar Babu deems the allegations as an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing DMK conference. The dispute between the Union Finance Minister and the Tamil Nadu government highlights the challenges of disseminating accurate information in today's fast-paced news environment.