BJP leaders acting like WhatsApp university: Stalin on Ram Mandir telecast 'ban'

Amid a slugfest between the ruling DMK and BJP over reports that the Tamil Nadu government had banned live telecast of the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, Chief Minister MK Stalin said senior leaders of the saffron party were acting like "WhatsApp university" and spreading rumours.

In a statement, Stalin said rumours were being spread by the BJP to divert attention from the DMK youth wing conference. The BJP has alleged that the DMK government was restricting special poojas, annadanams and live screenings of the Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya.

"Top netas of BJP are acting like WhatsApp University, spreading rumours. The rumours are a bid to divert attention from the second DMK Youth Wing Conference," Stalin said in the statement.

The war of words started after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman claimed earlier in the day that LED screens installed for the live telecast of the pran pratishtha ceremony at Tamil Nadu's Kamakshi Amman Temple were being taken down by state police.

BJP state president K Annamalai had also claimed that oral instructions were given to Superintendents of Police to prevent such events.

Sitharaman said the "anti-Hindu DMK" was misusing police and showing its hatred for PM Narendra Modi.

"Inside the famous Kamakshi Kovil, which is privately held, where bhajans have started from 08:00hrs, LED screens are being removed by plain-clothed policemen. In a temple, privately held, worshippers watching PM Modi perform prana pratishtha is a serious infringement on our right to worship," Sitharaman said.

"The DMK government in Tamil Nadu completely fails to protect citizens' rights. Anti-Hindu DMK now bares its hatred for PM Narendra Modi with police force and suppresses peoples aspirations," the Union Finance Minister tweeted.

In his response, CM Stalin said Sitharaman hid the fact that the organisers gave in writing that no LED screens would be used during the event while acquiring permission from the authorities.

The DMK supremo also said the Supreme Court, which heard a plea related to the matter, had warned against the spreading of rumours.

On Monday, the Supreme Court directed the Tamil Nadu government not to reject requests for telecasts of the consecration ceremony of the Lord Ram idol in Ayodhya.

The Tamil Nadu government, however, said there were no such restrictions and no ban on live telecast or performance of pujas and the plea was "politically motivated".