CPM Dindigul district secretary Sachidanandan said that BJP state president L Murugan has hurt the sentiments of Palani Lord Murugan worshippers by taking photographs of the presiding deity while visiting the temple and publishing it on the party’s official social media page.

“To maintain sanctity of the temple, it is prohibited to take photograph or videos inside the premises, leave alone the presiding deity. As part of his party’s Vel Yatra, BJP leader Murugan along with union minister of state Muralidharan visited the temple on November 23. Later a photograph of BJP chief Murugan offering prayer to the presiding deity was uploaded in the party’s social media page. If any other public had taken the photo, the temple management would have seized the camera. But now a police complaint has been filed against him,” he told DT Next. However, Palani Town Inspector Senthil Kumar said no FIR has been filed since the controversial post was removed from social media.

Sachidanandan added that worshipers carry the Vel with lot of respect, but BJP leaders carry it while wearing footwear. “Thousands of people visit the temple carrying Vel while walking hundreds of km barefoot. The photos of the BJP leaders sitting while the Vel was laying around hurt the sentiments of the believers,” he said. He also noted that the temple’s wench which was not operated for public was operated for the BJP leaders.