Tamil Nadu: While Hindus are restricted, DMK govt allows Ramzan Namaz atop Thiruparankundram Hill, selective secularism…

The article from Organiser reports on a growing controversy at Thiruparankundram Hill in Madurai, where the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government is accused of practicing selective secularism by permitting Muslim prayers while restricting Hindu rituals. According to the report, nearly 100 individuals were allowed to offer Ramzan Namaz at the Nellithoppu area atop the hill on March 21, 2026, following a Supreme Court ruling that upheld a balanced Madras High Court order permitting prayers strictly on specific festival days. This permission has sparked significant outrage among Hindu groups like Hindu Munnani, who argue that the state government and police have consistently blocked Hindus from performing traditional practices such as lighting the Karthigai Deepam atop the same hill. Legal advocates and activists cited in the piece claim there is a disturbing pattern of discrimination where the state machinery facilitates minority religious events under the guise of communal harmony while treating majority faith expressions as potential law-and-order threats. The report also highlights concerns regarding the historical identity of the hill, noting that while the court affirmed its name as Thiruparankundram Hill, there are ongoing efforts by some groups to rename it or claim the land as Waqf property. Ultimately, the article frames the government’s actions as vote-bank-driven appeasement that erodes public trust and undermines constitutional morality by applying unequal standards to different religious communities at a shared sacred site.