Thirupparankundram dargah hoists festival flag; BJP protests

Madurai: The annual festival of a dargah atop the Thirupparankundram hill here commenced amidst protests by the BJP and a section of Hindu devotees who questioned the local official for granting permission to the dargah, whereas the high court verdict was not implemented in the Karthigai Deepam lamp lighting case, PTI reported.

Following permission from the Thirumangalam Revenue Divisional Officer, the flag was hoisted on the night of December 21 at Hazrat Sultan Sikandar Badushah Auliya Dargah in connection with the "Santhanakoodu" festival on January 6, 2026.

Protesting against the decision of the official, a section of devotees and BJP functionaries staged a 'road roko' agitation on Sunday night, seeking to know how permission could be granted to one community while the Madras High Court order on lighting the Karthigai Deepam atop a stone pillar near the dargah was not carried out.

The protesters were detained. Both the Hindu Munnani and the BJP criticised the local authorities for the "dual standards." A few devotees had moved the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court seeking contempt proceedings against the local authorities for not implementing the December 1 order of a single judge permitting the lighting of the lamp on the Deepathoon (stone pillar) near the Sikandar Badushah Auliya Dargah.

Meanwhile, the police on Monday permitted the Hindu devotees to visit the Kasi Viswanathar temple atop the Thirupparankundram hill from 6 am to 6 pm, subject to thorough frisking.

Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran claimed that the state government "discriminate" against the people on communal lines and wondered what made the official grant permission to the dargah to hoist the flag while "refusing" to execute the high court order on lighting the Karthigai deepam lamp.