Hindu Munnani cadre oppose removal of temples along girivalam route

The encroachment demolition drive was carried out to create adequate space on the girivalam path to facilitate the 20 lakh devotees, who were expected to participate and witness the Karthigai deepam festival to be held on November 23.

The Hindu Munani members were irked over the fact that three temples Lord Ganesha and a shrine of Lord Muruga on the path were demolished. Agitated by the move, Hindu Munani cadre blocked the road. 

Following this, SP MR Sibi Chakravarthy rushed to the spot and held talks with them. The protestors were pacified by the SP. He promised that a peace committee meeting would be conducted to iron out such issues after the conclusion of the Karthigai deepam festival. Subsequently, the protestors dispersed from the spot.

In a related incident, the Ayyampalayam Village Administration Officer M Kalaivanan lodged a complaint with the Tiruvannamalai taluk police after receiving threats from a temple owner. When officials were supervising the demolition of a temple, Arul Mani who built the shrine on a government poromboke land adjacent to the girivalam path abused and threatened Tiruvannamalai RDO Uma Maheswari and trainee collector M Prathap, on Wednesday. Investigations are continuing