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CHENNAI, INDIA, October 8, 2004: The Tamil Nadu government has decided to withdraw the decision of the previous NDA government to take over the ancient hill shrine of Lord Arunachaleswarar at Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu, according to MDMK Deputy General Secretary and MP Gingee N Ramachandran. In a statement, he said Union Culture Minister Jaipal Reddy had yesterday conveyed to him over phone the Centre’s decision to withdraw the Archaeological Survey of India’s order to take over the temple and the girivalam path used by devotees to circumvent the temple on full moon day. Ramachandran, whose party is extending outside support to the UPA Government, said he had taken up with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Reddy and Tourism Minister Renuka Choudhury the need to give up the decision taken by the NDA regime. The move would have hit the livelihood of thousands of local people, besides leading to possible demolition of several structures around the temple, he said. Agreeing to his appeal, the Prime Minister had recommended to Reddy that the move be given up, he said. The NDA Government’s decision had triggered protests from the people of Tiruvannamalai, falling under Ramachandran’s Vandavasi Lok Sabha constituency.

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