Sri Saiva Muniswarar Temple chairman U Thavakumar said the gathering was being held to call on Hindus to reaffirm their vows for peace.
He also said the event was in no way related to Hindu rights group Hindraf as alleged by certain quarters.
He said this following police reports lodged by three Malay-Muslim interest groups represented by Penang Dakwah Islamiah Welfare Organisation (Pekida) last weekend.
Yesterday, North Seberang Prai district police chief ACP Azmi Adam said the event, which did not have a permit, was illegal and those involved could be penalised for violating the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
He said the police also rejected the group’s application to hold the gathering, reasoning that it had the potential to lead to chaos and religious tension.
Banners promoting the “protest”, which were removed from public spaces since it appeared about a week ago, said it was to counter Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, who apparently made denigrating remarks about Hinduism in videos that went viral.
Thavakumar said the police were not correct in calling it a Hindraf rally, as it was only a “vellaku kuttam” (briefing) with prayers for Hindus organised by the temple committee.
He said there would be a tea session afterwards, followed by several temple committee members lodging a report at the Butterworth police station.
The temple is located near government houses at Jalan Bagan Luar, behind the station.
“Last week, we sat down with the Butterworth police chiefs at the station, which is right behind our temple, explaining what we plan to do,” Thavakumar told FMT.
“We told them we will pray, hold a briefing, have tea and adjourn peacefully and head to the station which is walking distance.
“The police chiefs told us we can carry on as long as the gathering was done in peace.”
Thavakumar said the police had also asked why Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy, who is the deputy secretary-general of the DAP, was attending.
“To this, I told them I cannot stop them (politicians) as they are leaders of the Indian community. Our event is not political in nature. It is open to all Hindus,” Thavakumar said.