New Delhi, 5 Dec 

A dispute over the lighting of the traditional ‘Karthigai Deepam’ lamp at a hilltop temple near Madurai led to uproar in the Lok Sabha on Friday, with the DMK and BJP accusing each other of disturbing religious harmony in Tamil Nadu.

DMK MPs stormed into the Well during Zero Hour as party leader T R Baalu raised the issue concerning the stone lamp pillar ‘Deepathoon’ at the Thiruparankundram hillock near the Arulmighu Subramaniya Swamy Temple. The protest forced an adjournment of Question Hour.

Baalu alleged that the BJP was trying to “ignite” communal tension in the state, questioning the role of a Madras High Court judge who permitted lighting the lamp at the pillar.

“Who should light the deepam on the hill? Whether the Hindu Religious Endowment Board representative or some miscreants who have got a judgement from a Madras High Court’s judge?” he asked.

His remarks drew sharp objection from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who said Baalu cannot cast aspersions on the judiciary and urged the Chair to delete the comments.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs L Murugan accused the Tamil Nadu government of “denying the right to worship” to devotees.

“The state government is targeting a particular community and law and order of that region is being vitiated,” he said in Tamil, adding that devotees were arrested despite being escorted by CISF.

“The Tamil Nadu Police stopped the worshippers and even arrested them. The Tamil Nadu BJP president too has been arrested,” Murugan said.

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider a plea filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the High Court order allowing devotees to light the lamp at Deepathoon, located close to a dargah.

The Madurai bench of the High Court had upheld a single-judge order stating that lighting the lamp would not infringe upon the rights of the dargah or the Muslim community.