There was a heated argument between the OPS family and the DMK over who would light the Kartikai Deepam at the Kailasanathar temple owned by the Hindu Welfare Department.
Kailasanathar temple is located on top of a hill in Kailasapatti area near Periyakulam, Theni district. The temple had been left in ruins and without maintenance for many years. In the year 2002, after the political development of OPS, it is said that the temple renovation work was carried out at his own expense through the efforts of him and his family. Also, roads were constructed to the temple for the pilgrims to visit and the temple was consecrated in the year 2012. During the Karthikai festival of the temple, OPS has provided all the basic facilities required by the temple at its own expense. For the past 14 years only the OPS family has been lighting the Karthik Deepam in this temple.
Although under the control of the Hindu Religious Endowment Department, for the last 14 years only OPS and his family have been attending the Kartika Deepam lighting ceremony and lighting the lamp. In this context, DMK’s Theni North District Secretary Thanga Tamilselvan and Periyakulam Legislative Assembly Member Saravanakumar submitted a petition to the Hindu Charities Department authorities that O Panneerselvam and his family should not be allowed to light Karthika Deepam this year in this temple which is under the control of the Hindu Charities Department after the change of government.
In such an environment, yesterday, the OPS family was making all the necessary arrangements for the temple to light the Kartika Deepam. On the other hand, the DMK organized Kartika Deepam lighting with temple executive officers of Hindu Religious Charities Department from various parts of Theni district. In this particular Periyakulam Balasubramaniyar temple, the DMK members lit Karthikeyan Deepam on a female executive officer named Rama Thilakam.
Meanwhile, OPS’s youngest son Jayaprateep and many of his family members attended the event. At that time, a circle was formed for Jayaprateep, the youngest son of OPS, and the DMK members including Thangathamselvan and Periyakulam assembly member strongly opposed it. Then there was a heated argument between Thangathamiselvan and Jayapradeep and between the OPS supporters and the DMK.
Meanwhile, the temple priest stood with the lamp to light the Kartika lamp and the executive officer stood with the fire band to light the Kartika lamp. This led to a rivalry between the two. Then when the temple priest Karthikai tried to light the lamp, there was a scuffle between the Periyakulam legislator and the priest. Finally, the temple priest took the lamp held by Jaya Pradeep and lit the Kartika Deepam.
Enraged by this, Thanga Tamilchelvan, Periyakulam assembly member Saravanakumar and DMK members got involved in an argument between the OPS party and then left the place in a rage. Later speaking to the people present, Jayapradeep shouted furiously that the DMK is engaging in such activities for political reasons and that the people and God will take care of them.
Following this, O Panneerselvam came to the Kailasanathar Temple, poured a jug of ghee in the cauldron where the Kartikai Deepam was lit, worshiped the Kartikai Deepam and then had darshan of Kailasanathar Sami. Due to this argument between the OPS family and the DMK during the lighting of the Kartika Deepam, the Kartika Deepam was lit late at 7 o’clock. Due to this, the devotees who came to see the Kartika Deepa festival suffered a lot and the political fight in the temple caused a lot of controversy and the devotees were very shocked.