Protests by Pro-Hindu Organisations after seeking Madras High Court’s Permission

Issue of Thiruparankundram Hills in Madurai (Tamil Nadu)  

Madurai (Tamil Nadu) – Pro-Hindu organisations had strongly condemned the permission granted to Muslims to carry meat on the auspicious Thiruparankundram Hill. On 04.02.2025, thousands of Hindus staged demonstrations at Palanganatham junction as permitted by the High Court. The ancient Murugan Temple is on Thiruparankundram Hill; but Muslims have claimed the entire hill as Waqf Board’s property.

Muslims have built a dargah very close to Murugan Temple on this hill where they want to take goats and chickens for slaughtering. There was a strong opposition by Hindus. Police imposed a ban on carrying live goats and chickens there for sacrifice but allowed them to carry and consume cooked meat. The Hindus are enraged with this decision.

The District Collector imposed curfew in the area considering the opposition by pro-Hindu organisations. Hindu Munnani organisation, therefore, knocked the doors of Madras High Court seeking permission to stage demonstrations. The Court granted permission to hold demonstrations in protest between 5.00 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. on 04.02.2025; ordering the administration to make necessary preparations.

More than 50 pro-Hindu organisations including Hindu Munnani, Hindu Front, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, RSS, BJP, etc strongly staged protests; hoisting saffron flags and raising slogans acclaiming Hindu Deities. About 3,500 Policemen were deployed at the location.

Indian Muslim League’s MP Nawaz Kani had discussions with Police Officers during this period. Kani said that the custom of carrying goats, chickens to the hill, sacrificing, cooking and consuming them should be started again. It is Waqf Board’s property and every Muslim has a right to worship there as per his wish. Sacrificing animals on hill-top is an old custom and it should be continued.

Muslim community has claimed that the ‘Sikkandar Badusha Tholugai Pallivasal’ dargah was built by Sultan Sikandar 400 years ago.

DMK (Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam) party’s MLA Abdul Samad claimed to have unofficially conducted a survey of the hill on 21.01.2025 and claimed the hill belonged to Muslims.

What is the history ?

There is not only the ancient Murugan temple on the hill but there are also Jain caves  belonging to the second century, on which there are inscriptions in Brahmi script. Muslims had painted even the caves in green colour. Besides, there is a Shiva Temple. Muslims have been continuously trying to change the name of this sacred ancient hill to ‘Sikandar Hill’ since the last few decades. In 1931, Muslims had claimed the hill as their property and named it as ‘Alexander Hills’. On 12.05.1931, Privy Council took note of the matter and passed an order that ‘Thiruparandram Mandir has proved its historical control on the vacant parts of the hill and it is their property for generations.’