Tension erupted in Tamil Nadu’s Thiruvannamalai after a man was found eating non-vegetarian food inside the Annamalai temple premises, triggering outrage amongst devotees.

The incident occurred at the Fourth Praharam (outer courtyard) area of the temple. Devotees noticed the man eating food and immediately alerted the temple authorities.

When officials approached him and questioned what he was consuming, the man reportedly claimed he had ordered ‘kuska’ (plain biryani), but a piece of chicken had been mistakenly packed along with it.

Officials instructed the man to pack up the food and promptly alerted the District Police. The man was taken into custody for questioning. Further investigation into the matter is currently underway.

In a similar incident in January, Tamil Nadu BJP state president K Annamalai condemned Indian Union Muslim League leader and Ramanathapuram MP Navas Kani for allegedly consuming non-vegetarian food at the sacred Thiruparankundram Subramanya Swamy hill in Madurai.

Calling the act “deeply unfortunate”, Annamalai had demanded action against the MP, saying, “Hindus are a peace-loving community. This MP went up the hill and ate non-vegetarian food. This is very unfortunate. Appeasement politics have taken hold.” Without naming Kani directly, he told India Today then, “This MP should be dismissed. He created a law and order problem. Deeply unfortunate.”