‘Not Spreading Rumours’: Nirmala Hits Back As TN Minister Dismisses Her Charge On Ram Mandir Celebrations

Earlier in the day, Sitharaman claimed that the Tamil Nadu government of MK Stalin has banned watching live telecast of Ayodhya Ram Mandir programmes of January 22.

Nirmala Sitaraman said that in HR&CE-managed temples no puja/bhajan/prasadam/annadanam in the name of Shri Ram was allowed. ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: Hours after DMK Minister denied that there was any ban on special puja to celebrate the Ram Temple consecration ceremony, Union Minister Nirmala Sitaraman shot back saying she had received multiple calls from people who said they were not allowed to perform Ram puja 

"People are complaining that they are threatened by police to stop chanting of Ram Bhajans in temples. Since last night I have been getting calls continuously saying that we are not allowed to perform Ram Puja," ABP Nadu quoted the finance minister as saying.

Earlier in the day, Sitharaman claimed that the Tamil Nadu government of MK Stalin has banned watching live telecast of Ayodhya Ram Mandir programmes of January 22. She said that in HR&CE-managed temples no puja/bhajan/prasadam/annadanam in the name of Shri Ram was allowed.

"Police are stopping privately held temples also from organising events. They are threatening organisers that they will rip off pandals. Strongly condemn this anti-Hindu, hateful action," she said in a post.

The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious Endowment Minister PK Sekar Babu denied the charge saying that the department had not placed any ban on special puja on the occasion of the Ram Temple concentration ceremony.

He also termed Sitharaman's charges as "false information."

To this, the union finance minister replied she did not lie. "Not spreading rumours. I posted the tweet only after people complained."

"People are posting comments in response to Minister Shekharbabu's tweet. They are saying that they did not get permission to do Puja. So, Minister Sekar Babu should ensure no one stops or denies permission for Puja, Bhajan or live telecast," ABP Nadu quoted her as saying.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai shared screenshots of alleged instructions by Additional DGP to SPs to not allow pujas on January 22. 

The DMK Government has ministers who are inefficient, corrupt and a bunch of liars.

Below are the screenshots of instructions passed on by ADGP L&O to his SPs instructing to obstruct the celebration of the Pran Pratishtha across TN.

TN has become a draconian state under the… pic.twitter.com/lvvcszIWJI

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) January 21, 2024

The DMK Government has ministers who are inefficient, corrupt, and a bunch of liars," Annamalai said. "TN has become a draconian state under the DMK Government, and Thiru @mkstalin's actions are synonymous with the actions of the Tyrant Joseph Stalin."

The firebrand BJP leader challenged the Tamil Nadu govt to disapprove the screenshots.

"File an FIR on me & I will submit the entire sequence of conversations to the court," he added.