Commenting on the row over the burning of the Karthigai Deepam in Tirupparankundram on Thursday, DMK leader and Natural Resources Minister S. Regupathy said that the Tamil Nadu government had acted in accordance with a 2014 order of a division bench of the Madras High Court that allowed Deepam lighting at a place where it was regularly done.
“Those who did not understand or read the Bench judgment, including Justices Bhavani Subbaroyan and Kalayanasundaram, approached the single judge to light the Deepam at a place of their choice and secure an order. But we respect law and justice and our Chief Minister respects the rule of law. How can we allow the execution of a single judge’s order without it being a departmental order?” Said Mr. Regupathy.
Interacting with reporters in Chennai, he said the government would face charges if it allowed the single judge (Justice GR Swaminathan) order to be implemented. “We are following the 2014 regulation,” he said.
When asked about Hindutva’s claim that the government had refused to respect the court order, Mr. Regupathy said that they had disregarded the division order. “They are not ready to respect the order of the court and we can file a case against them based on the 2014 order. They suppressed the division bench order and secured a new one,” he said. “Will people believe their story?” he asked.
Deployment of CISF
Asked about the deployment of CISF personnel, the minister said they had gone there on the direction of the court. “The state police is functioning effectively. We are determined to protect law and order in the state,” he said.
Earlier in a message on social media, Mr. Regupathy said that divisive forces and those who were “slaves of the BJP-RSS” could not succeed in disrupting peace in Tamil Nadu no matter how hard they tried.
“Their proposals will not cut ice with the people of Tamil Nadu. The people will teach a befitting lesson to the enemies and traitors of Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Mr. Regupathy said it was unfortunate that AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami chose to side with the “culprits who were trying to create unrest” in Tamil Nadu. “He has become a BJP-RSS mercenary and has turned the AIADMK into a slave of Home Minister Amit Shah,” he claimed.
Published – 05 Dec 2025 0:29 IST
