Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched a sharp critique against the Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday, labeling those preventing the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, or deepam, atop the Thiruparankundram hill as "fools." He asserted that Lord Shiva would teach them a lesson. The minister made these remarks after offering prayers at the historic Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple in Madurai with his family.
Political Handling of a Religious Issue Condemned
Pradhan expressed strong disapproval of the state government's approach, calling it "condemnable." He highlighted that despite a favorable court ruling permitting the ritual, the Tamil Nadu administration has refused to grant permission, handling the matter politically. The minister drew a parallel, stating, "Just as Thirukkural cannot be separated from Tamil, they cannot stop the lighting of the lamp on Thiruparankundram hill, which remains a core belief of Hindus." This comment underscores the deep cultural and religious significance he attaches to the practice.
Temple Darshan and Focus on Mother Tongue Education
Earlier, the minister was formally welcomed by the administration of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple. Sharing his spiritual journey, Pradhan mentioned, "Yesterday, I had darshan in the famous Rameswaram temple, and today I am happy to have the darshan of Mother Meenakshi." Beyond the religious discourse, the Union Minister also addressed educational policy during his visit. He emphasized that as per the National Education Policy (NEP), the medium of instruction in every state should be the mother tongue. "In Tamil Nadu, it should be Tamil; that is what is prescribed in the policy. We expect the Tamil Nadu govt to give importance to Tamil," he added, linking cultural identity with pedagogy.
Implications and Rising Tensions
The minister's strong statements are likely to escalate the ongoing tension between the central BJP leadership and the Tamil Nadu state government over sensitive religious and cultural issues. The framing of the deepam lighting as an inseparable core belief positions it as a major point of contention. Pradhan's visit and comments effectively bring national attention to a regional dispute, intertwining themes of faith, regional politics, and language policy under the umbrella of the NEP's implementation.
