11 Priests Booked For 'Obstruction' In Tamil Nadu | DMK Minister Warns Of A 'Takeover' | India Upfront

In this episode of India Upfront, Padmaja Joshi will discuss how the hereditary priests and caretakers of the Lord Nataraja Temple, known as podhu dikshitars, were arrested on Tuesday by the Chidambaram town police in the Cuddalore district on suspicion of hindering the performance of their responsibilities. The dikshitars have forbidden worshippers from making prayers from the sacred platform of the temple since June 24. They showed a sign warning that from the festival's eighth day, Aani Thirumanjanam, until its end on June 27, worshippers would not be permitted to offer prayers from the sacred platform. The dikshitars resisted the HR&CE authorities' attempts to remove the board on Saturday. Sivarama Dikshitar, the secretary of the podhu dikshitars committee, and 10 other people were arrested after HR&CE executive officer Saranya complained to the Chidambaram town police. They were charged with violating the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act and various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). We are joined by a few panelists expressing their views on this issue. “No discrimination happens between the devotees. The management of temples is far better than those managed by HR&CE,” stated G. Chandrasekhar, Advocate For Chidambaram Nataraja Temple.Listen In!#tamilnadu #police #chidambaramtemplerow #11podudikshitharsarrested #hindureligiousandcharitableendowments #DMK #timesnowshow #indiaupfront #padmajajoshi