Tamil Nadu Govt Faces Criticism Over Mandatory Covid Vaccination To Enter Two Temples, Withdraws Order

The order was withdrawn on Sunday evening as several organisations had come out against the order, which was issued on Saturday

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Minister, PK Sekar Babu.

New Delhi: The Tamil Nadu government's Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) Department withdrew its order mandating two doses of Covid-19 vaccine for devotees entering the Meenakshi Sundareswar temple in Madurai and Sri Ramanthaswamy temple in Rameswaram.

The order was withdrawn on Sunday evening as several organisations had come out in protest against the order, which was issued on Saturday.

According to the order, starting from December 13, only those pilgrims who could show copies of their vaccination certificates would have been allowed entry into the two famous temples in the state.

The state government said that the measure was taken to contain the spread of Covid-19 at a time when there is fear about the possibility of a third wave.

The government order also said that more than 50,000 people visit the two temples every day, and hence it was required for the devotees to produce their vaccination certificate.

In Rameswaram, huge boards were erected on roadsides citing the necessity of vaccination and they also also mentioned that people without vaccine certificates would be denied entry.

Vaccine shots were kept ready at the local primary health centres to inoculate the devotees.

"Madurai Meenakshi Sunndareswar temple and Sri Ramanathaswamy temple have taken all precautions to prevent the spread of Covid and hence the order mandating vaccination is withdrawn," news agency IANS quoted HR&CE Minister P.K. Sekar Babu as saying.