Joint Statement Issued by Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, Revolutionary Socialist Party and All India Forward Bloc
Oppose Attempts to Whip Up Communal Tensions in Tamil Nadu
The Left parties strongly condemn the attempts by the BJP and other Hindutva communal forces to whip up communal tensions in Tamil Nadu by manufacturing a controversy around the religious sites situated on Tirupparankundram Hill in Madurai district, with a sinister eye on political gain.
Tirupparankundram Hill is home to three temples, a dargah, and several ancient Jain caves. For centuries, this hill has stood as a symbol of communal harmony and peaceful coexistence. People of different faiths have conducted their religious practices here with mutual respect, and members of various communities have lived together without discord.
However, seeking to extract political benefit in Tamil Nadu, BJP leaders, in February this year, labelled the site as the “Ayodhya of the South,” brought in people from outside, and attempted to provoke an incident. They also used social media to vitiate the atmosphere and sow discord.
Now, in December, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court – while hearing a petition on the issue – has unfortunately ignored earlier court rulings, historical records and the Places of Worship Act, 1991. By allowing the petitioner to light the Karthigai Deepam atop a British-era survey pillar adjacent to the Sikandar Badusha Dargah, the court has provided a handle to communal forces. The single-judge bench, overruling the objections of the state government, and the temple administration even permitted the petitioner to seek CISF protection for this act. These pronouncements not only disregard past judgements but also undermine the federal spirit of the Constitution by bypassing the State Government’s authority on matters of law and order.
The Left parties commend the people of Madurai and Tamil Nadu for standing in harmony against communal hate politics and for upholding the pluralistic traditions of the state by refusing to join the protests orchestrated by communal elements. The approach of the DMK government in the state, in handling this issue firmly, has been exemplary. It must be criticised that parties like the AIADMK are supporting the communal elements in this regard.
We also strongly condemn the targeting of Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan and the death threats issued by Hindutva groups. The Left parties call upon all democratic and secular-minded people of India to firmly reject the communal politics of the Sangh Parivar, which seeks to divert public attention from the Modi Government’s ongoing assault on people’s livelihoods and constitutional rights.
M A Baby D Raja Dipankar Bhattacharya
General Secretary General Secretary General Secretary
CPI (M) CPI CPI (M-L) Liberation
Manoj Bhattacharya G Devarajan
General Secretary General Secretary
RSP AIFB