Hindu activist and Indu Makkal Katchi (IMK) Chief Arjun Sampath was arrested in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, for protesting against the Coimbatore Corporation and the Tamil Nadu government against the demolition of the Hindu temples on the banks of Muthannankulam pond in the city recently.
On Friday, Indu Makkal Katchi took to Twitter to say that Tamil Nadu police arrested Arjun Sampath for protesting against Coimbatore civic body for carrying out a demolition drive against seven Hindu temples including the Angalamman temple along the Muthanankulam bund in the city.
கோவை முத்தன்ன குளம் ஓரத்தில் இருந்த அங்காளம்மன் கோவிலை இடித்த தமிழக அரசையும் கோவை மாநகராட்சியை கண்டித்து இந்து மக்கள் கட்சி தமிழகம் சார்பில் தலைவர் தமிழ் திரு.அர்ஜூன் சம்பத் அவர்கள் தலமையில் ஆர்ப்பாட்டம் செய்த போது கைது செய்தது கோவை மாநகர காவல்துறை
— Indu Makkal Katchi (Offl) ?? (@Indumakalktchi) July 23, 2021
வண்மையாக கண்டிக்கின்றோம். pic.twitter.com/EzLhRIEEDI
In a tweet, IMK said that Arjun Sampath was peacefully protesting against the temple demolition site, and he was arrested by Coimbatore Police. They also demanded the immediate release of the IMK leader and urged Coimbatore Corporation to rebuild the temple where it was destroyed.
தமிழக காவல்துறையை கண்டிக்கின்றோம் …விடுதலை செய் விடுதலை செய் எங்கள் தமிழ்திரு அர்ஜீன் சம்பத் ஜி அவர்களை விடுதலை செய் …….இன்று கைது
— Indu Makkal Katchi (Offl) ?? (@Indumakalktchi) July 23, 2021
இடிக்கபட்ட ஆலையம் அதே இடத்தில் அமைய வலியுறுத்தி இன்று மக்கள் போராட்டம் இந்து மக்கள் கட்சி தமிழகம் சார்பில் வந்தே மாதிரம்….?? pic.twitter.com/xJWS1sgWeM
Earlier this week, IMK Chief Arjun Sampath had requested Hindu devotees to assemble outside the demolished temple premises on July 23rd as a mark of protest. He had said worship and Parikara Puja would be done at the site of the temple demolition site on Friday.
Demolition drive of temples in Coimbatore
Last week, several Coimbatore civic body officials landed near Muthanankulam bund to carry out demolition drives of seven temples. In the presence of officials, earthmovers demolished Amman Kovil, Bannari Amman Kovil, Angala Parameswari, Karupparayan Kovil, Muneeswaran Kovil and a few other temples.
Six of the remaining idols present inside these temples were given away to the public, while officials took away one idol to keep at the corporation office. Last year, the corporation had also moved nearly 2,400 families from the tank bund after demolishing their houses, citing encroachment of the lake.
This happened in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
— Alter Ego (@Alter_Ego45) July 15, 2021
Stalin govt demolished 7 temples and as usual no outrage! Keep sleeping and see the great fall.
Hail SecuIarism ✊
Who will #SaveHinduTemples ? ? pic.twitter.com/ycpW8IDewd
They were provided with alternative housing by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board.
The demolition of seven temples, especially a 100-year-old, had fueled massive outrage on social media platforms. Netizens had accused MK Stalin-led DMK government of attacking century-old Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu.
Earlier this week, several Hindu activists had taken to the streets of Coimbatore to protests against the demolition drive of Hindu temples. The Hindu activists members of Hindu Munnani protested outside the corporation office at Town Hall in Coimbatore to condemn the civic body for the demolition drive.
