Overview
- The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn a Madras High Court order permitting the Karthigai Deepam lamp to be lit at the Deepathoon near the hilltop dargah.
- After officials did not act on the initial order, the High Court allowed devotees to climb the hill to light the lamp and asked CISF to ensure safety, leading to tensions and some arrests last week.
- RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said the issue should be settled within Tamil Nadu through Hindu community strength and stated he expects an outcome favourable to Hindus, adding escalation is unnecessary while the matter is sub judice.
- A seven-member Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department team inspected the stone on December 10, with conclusions awaited as rival groups dispute whether it is an ancient lamp pillar or a survey marker.
- More than 100 INDIA bloc MPs submitted a letter concerning a motion to remove Justice G.R. Swaminathan over his order, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah condemned the impeachment move as appeasement politics.