'Sinister Eye on Political Gain': Left Parties Issue Joint Statement Condemning Madurai Hill Controversy
The Wire Staff
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New Delhi: In response to a dispute that has erupted over the Tirupparankundram hill in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, over the lighting of the 'karthigai deepam' next to the Sikandar Badusha Dargah, the Left parties have issued a joint statement warning that communal tensions are being deliberately inflamed. The hill, home to three temples, a dargah and ancient Jain caves, has long been a shared space where communities have worshipped side by side.
It is this long history that the Left parties say is now under strain. In their statement, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the All India Forward Bloc accuse the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and allied Hindutva organisations of attempting to manufacture unrest for political advantage. Their charge is that what has been a symbol of coexistence has been pulled into a calculated attempt to stoke communitarian passions in Tamil Nadu.
Right-wing Hindu outfits stage protests near Thirupparankundram hill. Photo: Prasanth Shanmugasundaram.
According to the statement, the trouble began when BJP leaders arrived at the hill, described it as the "Ayodhya of the South" and brought in supporters from outside the district.
"...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," the statement says.
The controversy deepened in December 2025, when the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court heard a petition on the site.
The joint statement expresses disappointment that the court overlooked earlier judicial rulings, historical evidence and the protections offered by the Places of Worship Act, 1991. "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 statement says.
Also read: Court, Temple, Dargah: What Sparked the Latest Battle Over a Shared Sacred Hill?
By permitting the petitioner to light the karthigai deepam (a Tamil tradition involving lighting lamps in homes and temples to honour Shiva and Murugan) on a British-era survey pillar beside the Sikandar Badusha Dargah, the court, the leaders argue, handed an opportunity to groups intent on communal polarisation.
The statement is signed by M.A. Baby, general secretary of the CPI(M); D. Raja, general secretary of the CPI; Dipankar Bhattacharya, general secretary of the CPI (M-L) Liberation; Manoj Bhattacharya, general secretary of the RSP; and G. Devarajan, general secretary of the AIFB.
The state government and the temple administration had objected, but the single judge allowed the act to proceed and even gave the petitioner the option of seeking protection from a central force, the CISF.
The Left parties say this amounted to bypassing the state's constitutional authority over law and order and weakening the federal balance.
As tensions rose, protests by Hindu organisations followed and clashes were reported. Authorities imposed Section 144 restrictions (a measure mirrored in Section 163 of the BNSS, which replaced the CrPC), and the issue rapidly became a political flashpoint.
The statement also praises the people of Madurai and Tamil Nadu for refusing to be drawn into what it describes as a communal campaign. The parties commend the state's plural traditions and point to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government's "exemplary" handling of the situation.
They also criticise the state opposition party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or AIADMK for siding with those they allege are attempting to stir division.
The joint statement ends with strong condemnation of the targeting of Madurai Member of Parliament Su Venkatesan and the death threats issued against him by Hindutva groups. The Left parties urge democratic and secular-minded citizens to reject the communal politics of the Sangh Parivar, which they believe is being used to distract from what they describe as Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's "ongoing assault on livelihoods and constitutional rights".
This article went live on December ninth, two thousand twenty five, at twenty-one minutes past eight in the evening.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.