Madurai (Tamil Nadu): Popular Tamil actor Namitha has alleged that she was prevented from having darshan and was asked to furnish proof of being a Hindu, when she visited the World-renowned Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple along with her husband to offer worship.
The actor, who is the State Executive Member of the Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), told newsmen that when she visited the temple with her husband Veerendra Chowdary, the temple staffers prevented her from entering the sanctum sanctorum and rudely asked her to provide a certificate to prove that she is a Hindu and also her Caste certificate.
“I never underwent such an ordeal in any temple that I have visited across the country before.”
It was a known fact that she was born a Hindu and her marriage was solemnized in Tirupati. My son was named after Lord Krishna. But, they spoke rudely and arrogantly and demanded a certificate to prove my religion and caste, she said.
After getting my clarification, I was anointed with a kumkum on my forehead and allowed to worship Goddess Meenakshi, said the actor.
Namitha said she wore a mask so that the devotees would not recognize her. "We had informed the police about our visit to the temple on Sunday.
"But, we (Namitha and her husband) were made to wait for 20 minutes in a corner. There’s a way of asking. But, they (Temple staffers) behaved in a rude manner with us," she alleged.
Namitha also posted a video message on her social media platform, urging State Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P.K.Sekasr Babu to take action on the temple staffers who rudely behaved with her.
Meanwhile, a senior official of the temple denied her allegation and said the actor and her husband were stopped by the staff, as they were wearing masks to enquire whether they were Hindus. It is a standard protocol practised in the temple. After her clarification, the actor was anointed with kumkum on her forehead and allowed for darshan, he added.