Chennai, April 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tamil Nadu's Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department has taken over the administration of the Ayodhya Mandapam at West Mambalam in Chennai, following a court order, the state Assembly was told on Tuesday.
HR& CE Minister P.K. Sekar Babu, responding to a question raised by BJP member Vanathi Srinivasan, said that a judgment was being awaited in the case and that action would be taken as per the ruling of the court in consultation with the Chief Minister.
He said that the Madras High Court had dismissed a plea against the taking over of the Ayodhya Mandapam by the HR&CE Department as a few people managing the Sri Ram Samaj, which was maintaining the Mandapam, were exploiting the devotees.
A division bench of the Madras High Court had refused to stay the single judge bench's March 30 order quashing the plea by the Sri Ram Samaj against takeover of the Ayodhya Mandapam by the HR&CE Department.
The court had adjourned the case to April 22 but some devotees led by local BJP councilor Uma Anandan had objected to the takeover.
While the Department contends that it was a temple, the Sri Ram Samaj, in its affidavit, said that it was a place for religious discourse and was formed in 1954 on Ram Navami day. It also contended that there were pictures of deities but no idols at the Mandapam.
The HR&CE Department had, in its plea, informed the court that regular poojas were conducted at the Ayodhya Mandapam and that there was 'hundi' placed for collecting public offerings and hence is fit to be managed by it.
Sekar Babu also said that certain elements were trying to create an impression that the DMK government was against some communities and trying to incite law and order issues. He said that the Chief Minister would not hesitate to control such issues with an iron fist.
Intervening in the debate, Stalin called upon the BJP members to work for the downtrodden and called upon Srinivasan to take up the issue of rising petrol and diesel prices, and the shooting up of cooking gas prices.
He also requested the BJP members to take up the issue of Tamil Nadu with the Union government and to get funds due to the state. He also advised Srinivasan and other BJP members to understand the demands of the people and act accordingly.
The Chief Minister also said that the state government would not allow the Ayodhya Mandapam issue to be politicised.
Source: IANS
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