Nataraja temple imbroglio: TN Govt releases HRPC activists

Cuddalore, Mar 5 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Government today released 35 Human Rights Protection Centre(HRPC) activists, including Arumugaswamy Sivanadiar and eight lawyers from the central prison here and two others from Pudukottai prison, arrested following the clash with the heriditary priests(Dikshidars) in the famous Nataraja temple at Chidambaram.

The clash ensued three days ago when the priests allegedly tried to prevent Arumugaswamy from rendering Tamil hyms 'Thevaram' in the sactum sanctorum of the temple.

Police said the HRPC activists said that they would go to the temple again tomorrow to render 'Thevaram', not withstanding the protests from Dikshidars.

Following the clash, they had urged the Tamil Nadu Government to permit them to render hyms in the temple. They also urged the state Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment(HR&CE) Department to take over the administration of the temple.

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