Thiruvannamalai (Tamil Nadu): About 500 Scheduled Caste families live in Thenmudianur village. The community was denied entry to the 200-year-old temple here for 80 years. Decades ago, the communities agreed to offer prayers at various temples. Powerful communities here have said that there has never been any change in that. 300 Dalits entered the temple which was banned for 80 years.
Today (Monday) the district administration has taken more than 300 people from the Scheduled Castes who were denied entry to the temple in Thiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu for worship. This issue came to light during a parent-teacher conference. This historic work was done after holding meetings with the powerful communities of the area. However, heavy police force has been deployed outside the temple to prevent any untoward incident as the situation is tense due to fierce opposition from 12 powerful groups in the village.
About 500 Scheduled Caste families live in Thenmudianur village. The community was denied entry to the 200-year-old temple here for 80 years. Decades ago, the communities agreed to offer prayers at various temples. Powerful communities here have said that there has never been any change in that. There is heavy police deployment outside the temple as more than 750 people from powerful communities protested the move and demanded sealing of the temple.
Peace committee meetings were held under the leadership of the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police to convince the powerful communities to allow the SCs to enter the temple.
This is part of the Pongal celebrations and if everything goes as planned by the police, Scheduled Caste people will be taken inside the temple and allowed to prepare Pongal and perform pooja and rituals.
Around 15 to 20 families from the SC community have come forward to visit the temple and offer pooja, which the police feel could be a new beginning. Others will also come later. He said it could break the ‘communal divide’.
This is the second recent incident in the state. In Pudukkottai district too, the district collector led a group of representatives who denied entry to the temple. They had ensured access to the Scheduled Caste community after it was reported about defecation in the drinking water tank that supplies water to them.
Also Read: Union Budget 2023: What can expect homemakers, common people, railway traveller
Comments are closed.