Dravidian Model Government and Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department Focus Only on Temple Revenue, Alleges H. Raja
Senior BJP leader H. Raja has strongly criticized the Dravidian model government and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department for prioritizing the exploitation of temple revenues while neglecting the welfare of devotees.
Temple Revenue Exploitation vs. Devotee Welfare
In his post on X (formerly Twitter), H. Raja stated, “The Dravidian model government and the HR&CE Department are solely interested in looting temple revenues, showing no concern for the safety and basic facilities of devotees. This negligence is highly condemnable.”
He further pointed out that a devotee who had come for darshan at the Tiruchendur Murugan Temple tragically lost his life after suffering health issues due to standing in a long queue for an extended period. While the sorrow of this incident is still fresh, a similar tragedy occurred at the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, where another devotee collapsed and died due to prolonged waiting in the queue.
Call for Improved Safety Measures for Devotees
Highlighting these unfortunate incidents, H. Raja criticized the Tamil Nadu government’s negligence, stating, “The government is more focused on collecting revenue from temples but has completely ignored the safety and basic needs of devotees.”
He urged immediate measures to ensure the well-being of devotees visiting prominent temples such as:
- Palani Murugan Temple
- Tiruchendur Murugan Temple
- Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar Temple
- Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple
- Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy Temple
- Samayapuram Mariamman Temple
- Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple
- Vadapalani Murugan Temple
- Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple
He specifically demanded that medical emergency centers be set up near temple entrances, staffed with doctors, nurses, and first-aid facilities to respond to medical emergencies.
Need for Basic Facilities at Temples
H. Raja further criticized the HR&CE Department for prioritizing revenue collection while failing to provide even the most basic amenities for devotees. He called for immediate improvements, including:
- Clean and purified drinking water
- Proper and hygienic restrooms
- Well-ventilated premises
- Adequate electric fans
- Seating arrangements for the elderly, differently-abled individuals, and children
He emphasized that “Only when the government takes real steps to enhance devotee welfare will its commitment to faith be truly reflected. Instead of focusing solely on revenue collection, the Tamil Nadu government and the HR&CE Department must take immediate action to improve facilities for devotees.”
