The Dravida Munnetra Kadgam (DMK) government has entered its fourth year in Tamil Nadu, but now it is facing sharp criticisms for the mismanagement of temples under its alleged anti -Hindu stance and the Department of HR & CE (HR & CE). Many Hindu organizations and opposition parties have been constantly concerned about the deteriorating condition of temples, financial irregularities and controversial statements of party leaders.
Dilapidated condition and mismanagement of temples
Tamil Nadu has 44,121 temples under the HR & CE department, many of which are centuries old. The condition of many of these temples is pathetic. The centuries -old Selva Vinayagar Temple of Palkai is a tragic example of this, where there has been no maintenance nor Kumbhbhishek (reputation ceremony) for the last 30 years. This neglect has given rise to the demand for immediate renovation and spiritual revival.
This neglect seems more shocking when the vast property near the temples is monitored. The temples have about 4.78 lakh acres of land and more than 22,600 buildings. Despite this, the rent from July 2022 to March 2023 earned an income of only ₹ 117.63 crores. This big difference raises serious questions on the efficiency and transparency of the revenue management of the existing administration.
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Illegal occupation and financial concerns on land
Apart from poor maintenance, illegal occupation of temple land has become a major problem. Thousands of acres of lands of temples such as the historic Sri Varagun Pandeshwar and Sri Nellaeppar of Tirunelveli have been allegedly occupied. The critics are even alleged that the government departments are also among those who encroached on the properties of the temple.
The layers of financial mismanagement do not end here. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has also reprimanded the HR & CE department for waste of revenue and lack of transparency. In addition, employees working in temples are given very low salary. According to Pon Manikvel, a retired police officer, priests of Pullamangai Temple in Thanjavur get only ₹ 300 per month.
Discomfort of devotees and chaos in philosophy
These problems directly affect the devotees. Many temples lack basic facilities, such as clean water, toilets and waiting rooms. During festivals, the chaos of crowd management often leads to a stampede -like situation. Devotees have complained about being unconscious and waiting for Prasad at major pilgrimage centers like Thiruvannamalai and Thiruchendur.
Irregularities have also been revealed for philosophy. A rickshaw driver from Thiruvannamalai alleged that despite an official ticket of ₹ 50, some people demand up to ₹ 1,000 for early admission from alternative doors.
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Controversial statement of DMK leaders
Apart from administrative issues, controversial statements by top DMK leaders have also created anger in the Hindu community. Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin had raised nationwide disputes by comparing Sanatan Dharma with diseases like dengue and malaria and spoke of its ‘elimination’.
Giving further air to this dispute, DMK Deputy General Secretary A.K. The king described Hinduism as a ‘global threat’. At the same time, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has also come under criticism to ridicule Sanskrit mantras. These statements have hurt religious sentiments and tarnish the image of DMK.
Political influence and forward path
Public protests have taken place on all these issues, and the influential Madurai subjures such as monasteries have also reacted hard. Many people accuse DMK of weakening Hindu culture, destroying the sanctity of temples and making provocative rhetoric for political gains.
As a result, temple administration and cultural sensitivity have become a major political issue in Tamil Nadu. With the increasing pressure of religious groups, opposition parties and civil society, the DMK government finds itself under tight investigation, not only about the management of temples, but also about the attitude of its leaders towards religious sentiments.