Ban caste outfits from Sadhayam fest

The Hindu Makkal Katchi on Friday urged the state government to ban caste outfits from garlanding the statue of Chola emperor Raja Raja during the Sadhayam festival, since such outfits are using the occasion to paint him as belonging to a particular community, creating social unrest and communal tension.

Citing the nick name of Arunmozhi Thevan for the emperor, a few caste organisations are claiming that he belongs to their community. 

The outfit has appealed to their members to celebrate the birth anniversary of the emperor, who ruled South India and Sri Lanka. 

Referring to such appeals, HMK leader Arjun Sampath said king Raja Raja was beyond castes and one of the famous emperors. 

People of all communities were celebrating the Sadhayam festival for thousands of years, he said and appealed to the state to ban functions  by caste outfits outside the Big Temple.