Christian MP faces flak for endorsing Ram temple campaign

A Christian MP in Tamil Nadu is facing flak for allegedly joining a signature campaign demanding the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Kanyakumari MP Helen Davidson was issued a show-cause by the ruling DMK party for affixing her signature to support the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's (VHP) campaign for Ram temple. The party has sought for an explanation.

Helen, however, has denied signing any memorandum on the volatile issue. She told media that she had only received a petition from pro-temple activists who wanted her support in the Parliament.

"A delegation headed by former BJP MLA C Velayudhan met me and gave me a petition for extending support in Parliament for a bill to resolve the temple issue," she told TOI.

"But I told them clearly that I will be guided only by the decision of the party leader (DMK president M Karunanidhi)."

She added that one local magazine had wrongly reported on her signing a petition.

When contacted by media, Velayudhan clarified that the MP did not endorse the temple construction and said she would only go by the party stand.

Though the DMK welcomed the Ayodhya verdict initially, Chief Minister and party president M Karunanidhi later criticised the judgment for concurring that the disputed land was the birthplace of Rama.