Actress and BJP state executive member Namitha Vankawala has publicly accused the staff of the Meenakshi Amman Temple of mistreating her and her husband, Veerendra Chowdary. The alleged incident occurred on Monday morning as the couple sought to enter the temple’s sanctum sanctorum. AMMA Leaders Siddique and Ranjith Resign as New Misconduct Allegations Shake Malayalam Film Industry.
According to Vankawala’s Isnatgram post, temple officials demanded proof of her religious affiliation before granting entry.
View Namitha Vankawala’s Post:
In the Instagram caption, she expressed her dismay, “Vanakkam. For the very first time, I felt alienated in my own country and in my own place that I needed to prove myself as a Hindu!”
Vankawala criticized the manner in which she was questioned, describing the officials as “very rude and arrogant.”
She also highlighted that she had visited various temples, including Tirupati, without encountering such scrutiny.
“It is unclear why the Meenakshi Amman Temple authorities alone would request proof of religion,” she said in the video.
She further requested that P K Sekar Babu, the Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, intervene and address the situation. Bengali Actress Accuses Director Ranjith of Misconduct; Saji Cherian Defends Filmmaker As ‘Innocent’, Demands ‘Written Complaint’.
Despite the troubling experience, she thanked the police team for assisting her and ensuring a safe visit.