In his defence to a suit filed by Ramasamy, Senator Dr RA Lingeshwaran said Hindu devotees traditionally supported the silver chariot, managed by the Nattukottai Chettiar community, during festivities.
“Due to these two separate chariots during Thaipusam, there has been a divide in the Hindu community, leading to a debate over which chariot is to be given priority.
“This has led to some devotees giving priority to the golden chariot while boycotting the silver chariot, while some would only want to follow the silver chariot and stay away from the golden chariot,” his court filing read.
Ramasamy filed a suit against Lingeshwaran of DAP at the Butterworth sessions court earlier this month over a statement the senator made concerning the Thaipusam festivities, which the former Perai assemblyman deemed damaging to him.
In the statement issued in December 2023 titled “Unite, not divide! Senior Hindu leaders told”, Lingeshwaran accused Ramasamy of failing to unite Penang’s Indian community and of creating division among Hindus.
He had also accused Ramasamy, who chaired the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) at the time, of failing to uplift the social standing of Indians or improve on the Thaipusam celebrations despite his influential posts in the state.
Ramasamy, who was deputy chief minister from 2008 to 2023, knew of the statement through a journalist who was seeking his comment.
In his suit, Ramasamy claimed Lingeshwaran’s allegations were false and malicious, and that the statement was made with the intention of harming his reputation for political gain.
The former DAP leader sought general, aggravated, and exemplary damages deemed fit by the court, a mandatory retraction and apology from Lingeshwaran, as well as an injunction against future defamatory statements.
Lingeshwaran, who is currently PHEB deputy chairman, pleaded the defence of fair comment, saying his statement was justified and based on facts.
He also said the statement was in response to Ramasamy’s rebuke of the new PHEB leadership over its push for a “united Thaipusam”, with both golden and silver chariots to move concurrently as opposed to moving at separate times, as mandated by Ramasamy previously.
“The statements made by (Ramasamy) on his Facebook page caused unease among Hindu devotees, who had hoped that the Thaipusam festival could be celebrated by all Hindus with joy and in the spirit of unity to worship Lord Muruga.
“Through the statements he made, the plaintiff seems to want to destroy the unity, harmony, and well-being of Hindu devotees celebrating Thaipusam,” he said in his defence.
Sessions court judge Zulhazmi Abdullah called the case up for review today and fixed Aug 13 for mention.
Shamsher Singh Thind appeared for Ramasamy, while K Simon Murali and Kok Yuen Lin represented Lingeshwaran.