Don't let Tamil soil be set on fire

December 6 marked the 33rd anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya by communal fascists. A planned, organised conspiracy lay behind the seizure and destruction of this centuries-old mosque — where prayers and charitable work had long been carried out — and behind the construction of a grand temple on the same site under the supervision of those responsible for the crime. The occupation of the Babri Masjid was a calculated strategy by the Sangh Parivar to divide religious communities that had lived in peace and harmony, using that division as a pathway to power. The first step was to enter the mosque, install an idol, drive away the believers, and stir emotions through hate speeches. Though minor tensions arose, they caused no serious damage to the love and unity shared by people of different faiths at the time. But as organised displays of power and communal riots became more frequent, minds slowly began to drift apart. The Sangh Parivar demolished the mosque after convincing the government and the Supreme Court that only symbolic worship would take place. The temporary temple erected on the demolished site also received court permission for prayers. And under the cover of these actions, the BJP consolidated its grip on the country. Soon thereafter, in a completely irrational judgment, the Supreme Court ultimately ordered that the mosque’s land be handed over for the construction of a temple.

Also read: UP doc booked for posting Babri masjid video on demolition anniversary

The country has already heard the candid statements made by the judge who was part of that bench — statements that revealed how a verdict was crafted to disappoint an entire nation that had waited patiently, trusting the court to deliver truth and justice. We later witnessed how those who hoped for peace after Ayodhya were deceived, as more places of worship were opened to takeover attempts with court support. The disturbing incidents that recently unfolded in Thiruparankundram near Madurai in Tamil Nadu echo the days of the Babri Masjid occupation. The Karthika Deepam lighting ceremony at the Ucchi Pillayar Temple — one of the six abodes of the Hindu god Muruga — has been performed with deep devotion for centuries. However, in the communal fever that followed the Babri Masjid demolition, the Sangh Parivar entered the scene in 1994 with an adamant demand to light a lamp on a pillar near the Hazrat Sikandar Badusha Dargah on the Thiruparankundram hill. A High Court division bench comprising Justices Kalyana Sundaram and Bhavani Subramaniam made it clear in December 2017 that such a demand — lacking any historical or ritual basis — could not be allowed. Yet the Sangh Parivar refused to retreat. Their aim was never merely to light a lamp, but to turn Thiruparankundram into an “Ayodhya” and push their invasion into South India, setting fire to Tamil soil under the guise of ritual. The writ petition filed last year on this issue was dismissed by the court, which rightly observed that such permission would destroy peace and harmony. The subsequent Hindutva communal activities were strongly condemned by M.K. Stalin, and the Tamil Nadu DMK government resisted them with courage. This year, however, in a petition filed again on the matter, High Court Judge G.R. Swaminathan ordered the government to light a lamp on a pillar near the dargah — contradicting the 2017 division bench decision and without even hearing the arguments of all parties. The government chose not to implement this order, recognising that it would disrupt peace across the state. As a result, it now faces contempt of court charges.

Also read: BJP calls Babri Masjid demolition day 'Shaurya Diwas'; shares video

What will become of the country if the very courts and judges entrusted with upholding justice and law begin operating with communal hatred? Many who have risen to judicial positions through government influence have already delivered judgments that undermine the nation’s dignity and constitutional principles. In this context, the opposition MPs’ demand to remove G.R. Swaminathan from the bench for fostering communal polarisation is both justified and timely. The allegation in their impeachment resolution—that the judge shows bias toward lawyers from a particular community — is equally grave.Despite decades of divisive forces trying to revive caste prejudices and to stoke communal hatred, Tamil Nadu’s collective conscience remains firmly rooted in the egalitarian ideals of Periyar and the Dravidian movement. Resisting and defeating every attempt to poison this spirit is essential for the very survival of the nation.

Also read: Supreme Court never said Babri Masjid erected razing temple: Owaisi