TN Govt's "Unequal Secularism" on Thiruparankundram Murugan Lamp

• An ancient Murugan temple at Thiruparankundram, Tamil Nadu, is involved in a dispute over lighting a traditional lamp on its hill.
• The controversy centers on the Deepathoon (lamp pillar) located on the hill, where a 13th-century Muslim dargah also stands above the temple.
• Attempts to light the lamp and legal disputes over land rights at the site date back to 1862 and 1920, respectively.
• A recent High Court ruling on December 1 directed the temple management to light the Karthigai Deepam at the Deepathoon, which is on temple land.
• The Tamil Nadu government is resisting the court's directive, leading to criticism of its stance on secularism and religious rights.

Why It Matters: It exposes how skewed secularism denies majority rights, fueling resentment.