The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cadre held protests in Tiruchi and Thanjavur on Thursday, demanding the state government to open temples on all seven days of the week to offer prayers to the devotees.
In Thanjavur, around 400 BJP office-bearers were arrested by the police after they protested despite the prohibition. Around 500 party members gathered near Rajagopuram of Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple in Srirangam and raised slogans, demanding the state government to open the temple on all days.
They wanted the state government to withdraw the current system of keeping temples closed for devotees on Friday, Saturday and Sunday citing the COVID-19 pandemic and condemned the DMK government for the move. He urged the state government to keep the temples open for devotees even during festivals and auspicious days. The demonstration in Srirangam was led by the party’s urban district president Rajesh Kumar, with Rama as the party’s state general secretary. Srinivasan joined in.
Police sources said workers from delta districts took part in the protest in Thanjavur under the leadership of state party vice-president M. Muruganandam. The arrested cadre was later released.