An actress and member of the BJP state executive, Namitha Vankawala, revealed that she was asked to prove being a Hindu during her visit to the renowned Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwar temple.
She expressed disappointment over the alleged rude behavior of the temple officials.
Vankawala stated that a temple official prevented her from having darshan (the viewing of a deity) and demanded proof of her being a Hindu.
Vankawala, accompanied by her husband Veerendra Chowdary, shared her frustration in a social media post, stating that they were questioned about their religion despite identifying themselves as Hindus.
Namitha clarified that she and her husband were born Hindus and had visited temples across the country without facing such scrutiny.
In a video shared on her social media platforms, Namitha urged the Hindu religious and charitable endowments minister P K Sekarbabu to take appropriate action.
“This being the case they spoke rudely and arrogantly and demanded a certificate to prove my caste and my faith,” she said.
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A senior temple official denied Namitha Vankawala’s allegations, stating they had stopped her and her husband wearing masks to inquire if they were Hindu, as per temple tradition. After the couple clarified they were Hindu, the official said Namitha was anointed with kumkum and allowed to have darshan of the Goddess Meenakshi.
