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Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin defended the practice and said he is simply following in the footsteps of AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR
AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (R) has accused the MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government of misusing temple funds. (Image: PTI/File)
A political controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu after AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami alleged that the MK Stalin-led DMK is misusing temple funds by diverting them towards educational institutions.
Launching a sharp attack in response Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday defended the practice and said he is simply following in the footsteps of AIADMK founder and former CM MG Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR.
Stalin took a swipe at Palaniswami by saying he had once acted as a “dubbing voice” for the BJP, but had now become its “original voice”.
“Until now, he was giving a dubbing voice to the BJP, but now he has turned into the original voice. The HR&CE (Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments) law permits construction of colleges. How were you a chief minister without knowing this, I do not understand,” said Stalin at an event in Thiruvar, as quoted in a report published by India Today.
He countered Palaniswami’s remarks that colleges should not be built using HR&CE funds, and said this is permissible under the law. He reminded him of the precedent set by MGR.
“When MGR was Chief Minister, he inaugurated the Palani Aandavar College. And even you, in your last term, inaugurated the expansion of that college. Were you in a different state during the inauguration?” he was quoted.
WHAT ARE THE ALLEGATIONS BY EPS?
Palaniswami has accused the ruling DMK of diverting funds donated to temples, managed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, towards the construction of colleges.
He questioned the state government’s authority to use temple funds for purposes beyond their maintenance and development. His statement comes amid a debate over whether temples should be controlled by the government or run by trusts.
A report by Deccan Herald said Palaniswami, in one of his campaign speeches, questioned the fairness of diverting temple funds to build colleges.
“Can’t the government build colleges using its own funds? When we governed the state, we established so many colleges using funds generated by the government. You are deliberately using temple funds through the HR&CE department. How is it justified to spend funds in this manner that are donated by people to the temple?” he was quoted in the report.
“People view this as a conspiracy. Many people have asked me why the government is spending temple funds. It is as important to the nation as eyes are to a human. But education must be funded by the government. Don’t you have funds with the government?” he added.
WHAT HAS THE DMK SAID?
Besides Stalin’s MGR defence, the DMK said it has been a long-standing practice of using temple funds for educational and other humanitarian purposes.
HR&CE Minister PK Sekarbabu countered Palaniswami’s claims and asked him to “read history and learn how successive chief ministers since the 1950s have used temple funds to establish colleges for the benefit of the downtrodden”.
“He is unaware of history. He should know the evolution of the HR&CE department,” Sekarbabu was quoted by Deccan Herald.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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