Chennai: Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister PK Sekarbabu on Wednesday said plots to politicise spirituality in Tamil Nadu will be crushed. People should offer prayers to deities in temples and seek their blessings but should not take them to election campaigns or seek votes in their name, he added.
“We will dismantle the conspiracy to politicise spirituality in Tamil Nadu, the state with the highest number of temples in India,” the minister said, implicitly attacking the BJP, its leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The minister made the remarks during a debate on the ministry’s demands, and BJP floor leader Nainal Nagendran challenged the remarks. However, convener M. Appav mocked Nagendran, saying the minister had not named any names.
“This sector is close to the heart of our Prime Minister who believes in amalgamation of spirituality and morality,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Stalin’s Dravidian Model government has earned a unique place in history on a par with Raja Raja Cholan and Rajendra Cholan, who made immense contributions for temples and spirituality.
The government has allocated Rs 928 crore for the department, he said, adding that the department is working on projects amounting to Rs 129 crore to benefit 24,000 college and school students. Seeing the government’s effective policies and implementation of the department’s schemes, philanthropists gained confidence who donated Rs 979 crore. “In the history of the department, we have never received such a huge donation. This is a support to the current government and the CM,” he said. Listing 108 major announcements for 2024-2025, the minister said the Oru Kala Puja scheme will be expanded to 1,000 more temples with Rs 250 crore. Archagars of these temples will be given a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000.
The ministry will prepare a Rs 1,771-crore master plan for improving the overall basic amenities of six temples, including Arulmigu Sarapathira Swami Madarayam at Vyasarpadi in Chennai and Arulmigu Subramaniya Swami Temple at Kandal in the Nilgiris.
The day-long Annadanam scheme currently being conducted at 11 temples will be extended to Arulmigu Kalaragar Temple in Madurai and Arulmigu Subramaniya Swami Temple in Coimbatore. Students studying in schools and colleges run by Palani Murugan Temple will be provided midday meals from this year. Earlier they were provided breakfast. Renovation of 115 temples in the city will be spent at a cost of Rs 50 crore while three gold chariots and an equal number of silver chariots will be made at Rs 90 crore and Rs 115 crore respectively.
The department has increased the allocation of funds for management and maintenance of 490 temples in Kanniyakumari district, 225 temples in Pudukkottai Devasthanam and 88 temples under Thanjavur Devasthanam.
