UNION Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday alleged that the DMK-led Tamil Nadu Government has banned the public in the State from organising programmes in the name of Lord Ram on January 22. However, PK Sekar Babu, Minister of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments said that the allegations made by the BJP leader are being spread in an attempt to divert people’s attention from the DMK Youth Conference in Salem. The Finance Minister claimed that the Tamil Nadu Government has also banned live telecast of Ayodhya’s Ram Temple inauguration.

 

“TN Govt has banned watching the live telecast of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir programmes of Jan 22. In TN there are over 200 temples for Shri Ram. In HR&CE-managed temples, no puja, bhajan, prasadam/annadanam in the name of Shri Ram is allowed. Police are also stopping privately held temples from organising events. They are threatening organisers that they will rip off pandals. Strongly condemn this anti-Hindu, hateful action,” Sitharaman posted on X.

Sharing a clip from a media report, Nirmala claimed that cable TV operators are told that there is a likely power shutdown during the live telecast.