Tamil Nadu's Thiruparankundram Dispute: Sacred Hill, Festival Lamp, and Election Politics
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Thiruparankundram Lamp Row: Sacred Hill, Politics & PM Modi's Visit Ahead of TN Polls
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CNBC TV18•05-03-2026, 21:04
Thiruparankundram Lamp Row: Sacred Hill, Politics & PM Modi's Visit Ahead of TN Polls
•Thiruparankundram hill, a multi-faith site in Madurai, is embroiled in a legal and political dispute over lighting the Karthigai Deepam lamp atop the Deepathoon pillar.
•A 2025 Madras High Court order allowed the lamp lighting, which was upheld by a larger bench despite opposition from the Tamil Nadu government, police, and Wakf Board citing law-and-order concerns.
•The controversy intensified after Poornachandran died by self-immolation over the lamp lighting ban; PM Modi visited the temple and blamed the DMK government.
•The Supreme Court refused to intervene, calling the High Court's ruling 'very balanced,' even as over 100 opposition MPs sought impeachment against Justice Swaminathan.
•With state elections approaching, the issue has become a major political flashpoint, with CM MK Stalin defending the state's stance against politicizing faith.