Fact Check: Video claiming DMK govt. targeting Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu is MISLEADING
A widely circulated video shows the demolition of a temple claiming that it is a shrine of Lord Rama at Tambaram in Chennai, and also accuses the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government of targeting Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu.
Hyderabad: A widely circulated video shows the demolition of a temple claiming that it is a shrine of Lord Rama at Tambaram in Chennai, and also accuses the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government of targeting Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu.
Click here to view the post.
Fact Check:
The claim is misleading.
We conducted a reverse image search of the screenshots in the video and found a video with similar visuals published by the 'Polimer News' YouTube channel on January 11, 2022.
According to Polimer News, the images show the demolition of the Anjaneyar temple, which was built by allegedly encroaching a riverbed. According to this news outlet, a church wall was also demolished as part of this encroachment drive.
Further, using relevant keywords, we found an article published by the 'DT Next' news on January 11, 2022.
According to the article, on January 10, 2022, revenue officials and a police force led by Tambaram Assistant Commissioner demolished the Anjaneyar temple in Varadarajapuram, near the Tambaram area of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, for allegedly encroaching the Adyar riverbed. Several other news websites have also relayed the same information in their articles in January 2022.
https://www.hindutamil.in/
https://temple.dinamalar.com/
In response to the controversy surrounding the destruction of the Anjaneyar temple, the Tambaram Police Commissioner issued a press release in January 2022 informing the public that all religious and commercial structures constructed illegally by encroaching the Adyar riverbed would be destroyed in accordance with the 2015 Madras High Court order. During the encroachment drive, Tambaram Commissioner said, a church and the Anjaneyar temple were demolished.
Hence, the claim made in the post is misleading. An old video showing the demolition of a temple allegedly encroaching the Adyar riverbed in Tamil Nadu is shared as a targeted demolition drive by the DMK government.