- 2 days ago
In this episode of Super 6, we track the escalating Madurai Deepam controversy that has now reached Parliament.
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00:00Hello and welcome. Good evening. You're watching Super 6 here on India Today.
00:04I'm Akshita Nandakopalo. The next one hour, as always, we'll get you the top stories of the day
00:08with our focus on the southern states. So what's coming up on the show this evening?
00:14We'll be focusing first on the Deepam controversy as we have been through the week.
00:19Now the issue rocking parliament with BJP's Anurag Thakur raising the issue in the Lok Sabha,
00:24calling the DMK anti-Hindu, leading to disruption and ruckus in the house.
00:30We'll be getting you those excerpts and also how the DMK government now has said
00:35there's no history whatsoever of the Deepam being lit at the Deepatun pillar,
00:39which is what the entire contention is about. We'll break that down for you.
00:43But also coming up on the show, we can't forget that today is Talaiva Day.
00:48Rajnikan turns 75. There have been celebrations across Tavarnado, I'd say across the country.
00:53And we're getting you the ultimate tribute. That's coming up at 6.30 this evening.
00:58Remember, Rajnikan's most iconic, my personal favourite, Padi Appa, is back on screens today.
01:08Okay, so that's special tribute coming your way. But here are the top 10 headlines first.
01:12Pollution finally gets parliament's attention. Rahul Gandhi's push for a discussion on air emergency
01:18gets government's thumbs up. Kiran Rajeeju says time will be allotted to take up this matter.
01:22It's game over for the Goa club owners. Lutra brothers brought to Bangkok en route
01:31their deportation to India embassy to issue travel certificate after their passport was suspended.
01:40After the government's crackdown on Indigo, the airline appoints a chief aviation advisor
01:45to probe the mess. This after DGCA terminated four flight operation inspectors over the airline's
01:51recent spate of flight cancellations. The Indigo CEO has just appeared before the DGCA four member
01:57committee.
01:59Second, smoking showdown in parliament. In as many days after Anurag Thakur accused a TMC MP of smoking
02:07and using a rape inside the house. Another TMC MP caught smoking a cigarette in the parliament complex.
02:14BJP objects. The TMC MP, Shogata Roy, seen with a cigarette in his hand, remains defiant,
02:20says there's nothing wrong with smoking outside the parliament complex.
02:25The big Tamil Nadu Deepam controversy has reached parliament's doors. Anurag Thakur of the BJP
02:31accuses DMK of anti-Hindu bias over the Madure Deepam controversy.
02:35Over 50 judges oppose impeachment motion against High Court Judge Justice G.R. Swaminathan.
02:45No end to the power-dustle in Karnataka. Two breakfast meets have taken place to diffuse
02:50tensions but it hasn't worked. The day after Chief Minister Sidra Maya held a dinner meet with
02:55Ahinda legislators, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivkumar convened a parallel dinner meeting
03:00with his close aides and more than 50 MLAs. Assam SIT files charge sheet in connection with singer
03:09Zubin Garg's death case. Four accused charged for murder, including Zubin's manager,
03:15organiser of the festival and his two bandmates.
03:21Lionel Messi is hours away from setting off a football frenzy across India for a three-day
03:27four-city spectacle. He's going to be in Kolkata where there are massive preparations,
03:32a towering 70-foot statue in his honour, high-voltage matches, charity galas,
03:38even a meeting with Prime Minister Modi lined up.
03:44Superstar Rajnikan turned 75, Tamil cinema's biggest icon greeted by political leaders,
03:49film legends and fans across the world on his birthday.
03:57But as promised, let's begin with the latest updates on the Madurai Deepam controversy.
04:04No longer a political storm just in Tamil Nadu, but it's reached the national capital too,
04:09whether it's through the impeachment motion or for that matter, now in the parliament as well.
04:14The DMK government is squaring off against the BJP with, in fact, BJP's Anurag Thakur raising the
04:20issue in the Lok Sabha, calling the DMK anti-Hindu and saying that they've turned the state of
04:26Tamil Nadu into a symbol of anti-Sanatana dharam. On the other hand, more than 50 judges have
04:31condemned the DMK's impeachment motion against Justice G.R. Swaminathan, who remember,
04:36had ordered the lighting of the lamp on the Deepatun pillar.
04:45Tamil Nadu's Deepam flashpoint has now exploded into a full-blown national storm.
04:50What was a temple tradition at Thiruparan Kundram has spiraled into one of state's most charged
04:58controversies.
05:02Storm hit parliament's winter session. The BJP launched a blistering offensive accusing the DMK
05:09government of turning Tamil Nadu into a symbol of anti-Sanatana dharam.
05:14One state in India has become a symbol of anti-Sanatana dharma. Their ministers are making
05:23statements. Their ministers are making statements against Sanatana dharma. They objected when prime
05:31minister was paying, doing his duty for the Ram temple.
05:37Despite the court order, they are not allowed.
05:39He also accused the DMK of being in contempt of the court.
05:42The Madurai bench of Madras High Court came down strongly on the Tamil Nadu government
05:49by accusing officials of deliberately ignoring its order on lighting the
05:55Garthi Gai Deepam lamp at the Madurai. Hindus are lucky charged. Despite the court order,
06:04they are not allowed.
06:04Day after DMK accused Madras High Court judge, Justice G.R. Swaminathan of bias and ideological
06:14alignment. More than 50 former judges and senior jurists have issued a statement backing the judge.
06:21They call the impeachment motion filed by DMK and allies weaponization of a constitutional process and a
06:30brazen attempt to brownbeat judges who don't align politically. The letter warns that such
06:37actions cut at the roots of democracy, intimate the judiciary, target judges for their rulings and
06:45ultimately undermine judicial independence. As devotees push to light the Karthi Gai Deepam and the DMK has
06:54challenged the Deepat Thun itself in court today, the dispute is far from over. With elections nearing,
07:02it is rapidly becoming a major political flashpoint in Tamil Nadu. With Pramod Madhav,
07:07Bera Report, India Today.
07:12I'll bring in Anagar Keshav for a quick update on what's really playing out right now. Anagar is
07:17joining us live from Chennai. Anagar, what's the DMK strategy here? You know, they're in denial.
07:22They're saying that there's no historic record whatsoever of the lamp being lit at the Deepat Thun.
07:27But now with this issue snowballing, reaching parliament, the BJP upping the ante even inside the
07:32House in parliament, what is the DMK's plan here? Because very clearly, even the impeachment motion,
07:37was just about optics. They knew full well that it won't really go through.
07:46Well, in fact, the DMK says that, in fact, they're asking for solid supporting documents as to the
07:52stone pillar is actually a Deepat Thun. The DMK is asking if before the year 1920, if it was really
08:00a customary practice to light a lamp on the Deepat Thun. Because for the last hundred years,
08:05on the eve of Kartikey Deepam, the lamp has been lit at the Uchi Peliyar temple, which is at a lower
08:10peak. But now, why is it that all of a sudden, few groups with vested interests are now asking for a
08:17lamp to be lit? That too, near a Darga is what the DMK is asking. And therefore, they've now denied
08:23permission, which happened on the eve of Kartikey Deepam on December 4th, to light a lamp near the stone
08:29pillar lamp, also known as Deepat Thun, which is near the Darga. In fact, today, there was a court
08:34hearing in the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, where the Tamil Nadu government has questioned
08:38if it is even a customary practice in the Hindu tradition to light a lamp on the Deepat Thun.
08:44If so, why wasn't it followed in the last hundred years? Is there a supporting document to prove that
08:50it is indeed the Deepat Thun where the lamp was lit many, many years back? So, these are the
08:54pertinent questions that DMK has put forth in the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court. In fact,
09:00the case has been adjourned to Monday, post which the case will be taken up for hearing again.
09:05All right, Anika, thanks for those details. But let's focus really on what's led to this storm for
09:11the last many days. We've been reporting here on India Today about the politics, the legal fight and
09:17so many aspects, all triggered by what happened on Kartikey Deepam, which is a very popular festival
09:23in Tamil Nadu. How did a ritual that was being performed peacefully for a hundred years suddenly
09:29ignite tensions? What really happened? Do the devotees have a case in wanting to light that lamp
09:34on top of the hill? Does the government have a case in asking whether the Deepat Thun exists at all?
09:41There's been a massive showdown playing out in Tamil Nadu over the last many days over the lighting of a lamp
09:49in a temple in Madurai. This is over the Tiruparang Kundram temple in Madurai, where court judgment
09:56allowing for a lamp near a darga to be lit sparked a political storm. So, what exactly happened?
10:02Let me begin with the temple itself. It's located atop a hillock and is the abode of Lord Murugan.
10:09So, scores of Murugan devotees visit this holy temple. It's called the Subramanya Swami temple.
10:14Now, interestingly, right besides this temple is a darga, just slightly above the temple itself.
10:20And the two structures have co-existed for centuries now, a symbol of religious coexistence.
10:25So, what led to this sudden controversy now? Essentially, over a festival called Kartikai Deepam.
10:33It's a massive festival that's celebrated in Tamil Nadu for Hindus. And on this day,
10:37Deepams or lamps are lit across temples and in homes. Tiruparang Kundram also sees a huge event on this day.
10:44Hundred years ago, the lamp atop a Deepat Thun was lit. What's a Deepat Thun? It's a tall lamp post pillar
10:52traditionally used for lighting ceremonial lamps during festivals and special rituals.
10:57But in this temple, this pillar is very close to the darga and hasn't been used or lit for the last
11:03many decades. Why? Because it was decided that the Deepat Thun being so close to the darga won't be
11:09lit to avoid any communal tension. This pillar is very much in the temple premises, but just about
11:1550 meters from the darga and so wasn't lit. And so, for the last 100 years or so,
11:21the Deepam was lit at another location, near the Ganesha temple, which very often in Tamil Nadu,
11:27including in this case, is called the Uchi Pillayar temple. This year, however, things changed.
11:32A petition was filed before the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, seeking to light a lamp at
11:37the Deepat Thun this time. On December 1st, the court allowed these petitions. The judge,
11:43Justice G.R. Swaminathan, held that Deepat Thun lies on the portion of the hill belonging to the
11:47temple and not the darga. The court explicitly rejected objections that lighting the lamp would
11:52harm or infringe the rights of the nearby darga or Muslim community and directed that from this year
11:58onward, the Deepam must be lit at the Deepat Thun in addition to the customary place, which was the
12:04Pillayar temple, as I told you. But despite the order, on December 3rd, there was no arrangement made
12:10to light the lamp at Deepat Thun on the festival night. Instead, the temple authorities lit the Deepam at the
12:16traditional location. This sparked protests by Hindu groups.
12:32In response, the court initiated contempt proceedings. It allowed the petitioner and a small group with
12:37CISF personnel to ascend the hill to light the lamp at the Deepat Thun. But police and administration
12:43blocked their path, citing law in order. So they prohibited that attempt under security
12:48orders. Now the case is currently on. But the DMK government has maintained that allowing the
12:54lamp to be lit will lead to a law in order situation.
12:57This is the price of the bank. It also how you can see the power in order to hold the
13:11government. It is not a big deal. They are the people of the law in order to remember the
13:13law. So they are the people that listen to the law in order to show the police. The police
13:18The DMK has also initiated an impeachment motion against the judge.
13:40With the signatures of 120 MPs, DMK MPs have pushed for the impeachment of Justice J.R. Swaminathan.
13:47Claiming he didn't act impartially, that he favours advocates of a particular community
13:53and that he was deciding cases on the basis of a particular political ideology.
13:58This impeachment motion has sparked a political storm with claims that the DMK is targeting judges
14:03who give verdicts that aren't favourable to the government.
14:07And the showdown, therefore, over the lighting of a lamp in this temple
14:12has become the biggest talking point with just months to go for elections in Tamil Nadu.
14:17Rest assured, we're going to be getting you all the updates on that story
14:22because this is continuing to snowball.
14:25And over the coming weeks, the legal fight also continues.
14:28So over the lighting of that lamp in Tamil Nadu's Tirupanam Kuntram.
14:32Let's move on to Karanataka.
14:33Everyone assumed that the power tussle has come to an end.
14:37But here's what we've been constantly telling you on India today.
14:40It's nowhere near ended until there's a decision by the High Command.
14:44More proof of it is the non-stop meets that have been happening in the last few days.
14:48There were two rounds of breakfast meetings, yes, between Chief Minister Sidramaya
14:52and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shulkumar.
14:54Clearly hasn't done enough to diffuse tensions because we're still seeing shows of strength.
14:58Chief Minister Sidramaya first held a dinner meet with Ahinda legislators.
15:03Ahinda is a group of minorities that Sidramaya is known to be the face of.
15:08This happened, in fact, in Balagawi.
15:10Right after that, last night, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shulkumar
15:14convened a similar dinner meeting, a parallel dinner meet
15:17with who is assumed to be his close aides, more than 50 MLAs,
15:22at a farmhouse on the outskirts of Balagawi.
15:24Needless to say, Sidramaya didn't invite D.K. Shulkumar.
15:27D.K. Shulkumar didn't invite Sidramaya.
15:29These meetings sparked intense political buzz amid the ongoing Assembly session.
15:34D.K. Shulkumar claimed that this wasn't just a political meeting
15:37and everyone gathered on the invitation of a former district president.
15:42Chief Minister Sidramaya, when asked about this meeting,
15:46lost his school, lashed out at reporters,
15:49when questioned if he's been summoned to Delhi by the High Command.
15:54Chief Minister Sidramaya, when said he's the only way to the
16:00political parties, he didn't invite you to a birthday or the other.
16:03He left in the second meeting.
16:06Chief Minister Sidramaya, when asked about this meeting,
16:08it was about 250 years ago.
16:10I would say, the former district president,
16:13where is the group also following the city?
16:15I was proud of every one of the speakers that I was,
16:20a Christian class.
16:23There was a fascist.
16:30He was recognized and was born again.
16:36He was a very young man.
16:39He is a master of pain.
16:48He is a master of pain.
16:55He is a master of pain.
17:01DCM and DCM is not in terms of seeing each other.
17:19See, position has become so worst for the shake of power.
17:24So we have to see in the future.
17:27See, in the name of the vote jury, they wanted to travel to Delhi or to meet the higher-ups.
17:34So this is the situation in Karnataka.
17:39Let's bring in Sagaraj, who's joining us live from Belagawi with more details on this.
17:43Sagaraj, what do you make of these two meetings?
17:45We've constantly said no smoke without fire.
17:48But these two meetings, both the leaders maintain.
17:51It's not political whatsoever.
17:53It's no show of strength.
17:54But what do you understand from what's happened?
17:57If you notice that, both of them are not making any kind of eye contact.
18:05And if you notice that, both the camps where Congress leaders, whether it is Feroz Seth or PCC President,
18:12both are Congress leaders from Belagawi.
18:15For one meeting, Chief Minister Sidramaya goes for dinner.
18:18And DK Shukumar skips that meeting.
18:20The next day, DK Shukumar goes for a dinner meeting with the PCC President and Sidramaya skips.
18:26Both of them are saying that they had some other program on that particular day when they skipped the dinner meeting.
18:33However, everything is quite clear that both of them are not going together when it comes to these kind of meetings.
18:40They are avoiding each other's contact.
18:43Even their supporting MLAs are also avoiding these dinner meetings.
18:48Wherever they are comfortable, they are going.
18:50Wherever they are uncomfortable, they are not going.
18:51This clearly shows that still the power tussle is still brewing between them.
18:57And adding more fuel to the fire is Yatindra's statement.
19:01Despite a gag order which has been issued, despite a request which has been made by DK Shukumar and Chief Minister to MLAs and Ministers,
19:11Yatindra, who is the son of Sidramaya, continuously making the controversial statement.
19:16There are MLAs who also claim that why High Command is keeping quiet,
19:20why there is no notice that has been issued to Yatindra, the son of Chief Minister Sidramaya.
19:25They feel that one law for them and another law apply for CN Sun.
19:29So we need to wait and watch how the High Command is going to take this forward.
19:33Many feel that after 19th, there might be an end to all this controversy.
19:37They might be summoned to Delhi, but it all depends upon the High Command.
19:41We've heard this so many times, Sagai, that we take it not with a pinch of salt, but a bag of salt, honestly,
19:46that the High Command will finally resolve it.
19:48They failed to for so long now, and they're letting this fester, these wounds fester constantly in Karnataka.
19:54Thanks very much for joining us, Sagai, with all of those details.
19:58Now, in Karnataka, the fight for the Chief Minister's chair is no longer backstage.
20:03It's playing on a full public view.
20:05And like I told you, the Karnataka Assembly is underway.
20:08So amid that, this particular issue took centre stage in the Assembly too,
20:11with the BJP jibing and taking tongs at both D.K. Shrift Kumar and Sidramaya.
20:17In Karnataka, the fight for the chair is no longer a whisper.
20:26It is a full-blown spectacle.
20:29With the Congress High Command still silent on who gets what,
20:33the BJP is turning up the political heat.
20:36From mocking the grand old party on social media,
20:39through meme fest,
20:40now it has spilled into full-blown theatre of the absurd in the House.
20:45In the Legislative Council,
20:46Leader of Opposition,
20:48Chalavadi Narayan Swami,
20:49accused rivals of questioning the Chief Minister's grip on the chair.
20:55Sidramaya hit back, blunt and shot.
20:58And if the Legislative Council saw sparks,
21:15the Assembly saw taunts fly.
21:17The Deputy Chief Minister's unusual contrite behaviour,
21:21drawing a mocking response from the Saffron Party.
21:23Mr. Karnataka,
21:53With the high command still tight-lipped, the Congress leadership crisis
22:23hangs in limbo, but the political storm it has triggered has only intensified.
22:29With Saghairaj, Bureau Report, India Today.
22:35Let's get you a quick round-up of all the other stories coming in from the southern states.
22:43Renataka Chief Minister Sidra Maya has informed the Assembly that nearly 50 crore rupees have been spent
22:47on his air travel between May 2023 to November 2025, leading to the BJP accusing
22:53the Sidra Maya Sarkara of resorting to a needless splurge, calling it a case of misplaced priorities.
23:01Huge embarrassment for the Congress government in Karnataka as their own MLA Raju Kage has
23:06demanded a separate North Karnataka state, saying the government has neglected the region
23:11and left it to suffer.
23:15Tragic news from Andhra Pradesh.
23:17Nine people lost their lives after a bus-carrying devotees fell into a gorge.
23:22Thirty-five passengers were on board.
23:24The bus was carrying pilgrims from Chitur.
23:26Prime Minister Modi's expressed grief and announced two lax excretia for the kin of the deceased.
23:33Twenty-year jail term for all six convicts who were found guilty in the 2017 actress assault case.
23:38Pulsar Suni, the main culprit, has been found guilty for gang-rape and criminal conspiracy.
23:43Actor Dilip, remember, was acquitted in the case.
23:45It's Rajinikanth's 75th birthday and to celebrate the film Pade Appa, his most iconic, my personal favourite, has been re-released.
24:09For decades, the name Rajinikanth has been synonymous with superstar for all of us, which he truly is.
24:15I'd even say there's never been and ever will be a superstar like him.
24:20But today, I'd also like to highlight that Rajinikanth is more than just the flipping of the cigarette or the short tosses or even his iconic dialogues.
24:28He's an amazing actor who many would argue hasn't got his due as an actor.
24:33Whether it was his early films like Mullum Malarum and Awal Apadidaan or even some of his Masi films, I'd say,
24:40we always look beyond the actor and only view him as a superstar, as a spectacle.
24:45I'll give you some examples.
24:47Take Talapati, for example, where so many scenes stand out, whether it's a film quietly following his mother
24:53or the longing as he lets the love of his life go in that sunset silhouette.
24:59Even films like Endiran to pull off a double role with such ease or in a basha where he goes from an auto driver to an enigmatic don.
25:07It takes a great deal of talent, of skill, to convince audiences that he can pull off both characters and with the same flair.
25:15So on his 75th birthday, let's thank Talaiva, the performer, the actor, for so many memorable films and roles that so many like me, I'm sure, grew up with.
25:39Rajinikanth is not just a superstar, he's a cult.
25:45Today Rajinikanth turns 75.
26:06It's Talaiva's birthday and his fans can't keep calm.
26:10It is not less than any festival in Tamil Nadu.
26:28Fans gathered outside his residence in Chennai to catch a glimpse of the actor.
26:33Similar scenes were witnessed outside theatres.
26:43On this special occasion, one of his iconic movies, Parayappa, returned to theatres.
26:53It's the Rajinikanth's day to the entire country.
26:56We are reporting from Kasi Theatre, one of the most oldest and iconic theatres.
27:00In fact, there is a second show that is just going to begin.
27:04And you can see how many people have gathered just to catch Rajini on screen.
27:08In fact, the fans are eagerly waiting to watch the famous Parayappa vs Neelambari scene, the iconic scene.
27:15The whole theatre goes berserk when this scene is played every single time.
27:20Because that's how iconic and powerful cinema was at that time when Rajini was still at the peak of his career.
27:29Birthday wishes for Talaiva poured in from all directions.
27:34Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among those who wished the superstar.
27:38Over the years, his unique style, powerful screen presence and humble personality have made him a phenomenon that broke linguistic barriers and territorial boundaries.
27:49As the superstar turns another year older, his influence shows no signs away.
27:56With Anagar Keshav, Bureau Report, India Today.
27:58It's a fitting celebrations there for a superstar with Padi Appa re-releasing and theatres once again house full across Tamil Nadu.
28:11As one thing about Rajini Khan nobody can imagine, no matter how much they try, his mannerisms.
28:16It seems to come naturally to him, his style, his aura, his way of doing things.
28:21Only Talaiva can do it, it's a signature style.
28:24The actor and the undisputable star.
28:53Of the silver screen has captured the imagination of his fans with his characteristic unforgettable style and unique antics over the years.
29:23Both Kamal Haasan and Rajini Khan were rising stars in the 1970s.
29:29While Kamal Haasan debuted as a leading man, Rajini Khan's first role was that of an antagonist.
29:37It was only much later that Rajini took on roles which established him as the quintessential hero.
29:53What set Rajini apart from his other counterparts was his appeal among the masses.
30:08They loved the way the star carried himself on screen.
30:12Rajini taught his fans how to wear a pair of sunglasses long before Salman Khan taught fans how to balance them on one's shirt collar.
30:25It was never just about slipping it on, but the magic was in the right way of twirling it and slipping it on with one seamless smooth move.
30:34Rajini's every move on screen was stylized.
30:43Even something as trivial as popping gum in one's mouth was about doing it in a manner which had Talaiva stamped all over it.
30:52The way Rajini popped gum into his mouth in the 2000 film Shivaji became a rage and that's how it was supposed to be done.
31:07He taught millions of his fans how to salute with attitude.
31:22The superstar even perfected the Namaskaram.
31:45While Rajini starred in a number of Tamil films in the 80s which were remakes of Amitabh Bachchan hits, he developed his own mannerisms which were lapped up by his fans and how.
32:14When Rajini walked onto the big screen, he had his fans screaming for more.
32:23The strut was confident with a dash of arrogance.
32:27Often his introduction scenes were a combination of the Rajini can't walk and fight sequences.
32:33Or had the superstar breaking into a dance.
32:36You might think that flipping a coin in this way might not be child's play.
32:47But when Rajini flipped a coin, he made it look like he had been doing it since birth.
32:52He flipped a coin like the pro in Shivaji and had his fans eating out of his hands.
32:58He's a star unlike any other.
33:11While in real, Rajini has always spotted mobbed, uncombed hair, reflecting the reckless attitude of the character he plays.
33:19Rajini walks out in front of the cameras in the balding avatar in real life, without any qualms, no reservations whatsoever.
33:29How many stars can put their vanity behind them like Talaivar? Not a single one.
33:35What it is that makes me feel like this.
33:38I don't know who you are, but you must be some kind of superstar.
33:46So yes, Rajini Kant isn't just a star you watch.
33:50He's a force you feel.
33:55And Talaivar's style, spirit and swag all echo far beyond the silver screen.
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