A Muslim Municipal Commissioner had placed an Arabic plaque in his government office hailing Allah in Tamil Nadu. After Hindu organisations’ complaint and the pictures reached the district collector the plaque was removed.

Syed Hussain, the Commissioner working in Pernambut Municipal office had placed a plaque with Arabic phrases behind in his cabin. The Arabic phrases said, “This is my God’s gracious gift” and “In pursuit of God”. While the Arabic words were on top and in big fonts, Tamil Nadu government’s emblem, the tower of Srivilliputhur Andal temple along with the tricolour and the four faced lion, was relatively small.

As the picture of the plaque went viral in social media, Hindu organisations opposed it and filed a complaint asking to remove it. Reportedly social activists and public who saw the plaque also filed complaints. Tamil media reports mention that it also reached the social media groups of Vellore district officials including the district collector Kumaravel Pandian. DT Next reported that it was the usage of TN government’s emblem that “irked” the officials following which they immediately ordered to remove the plaque.

While the plaque was removed as soon as complaints poured in from all quarters, no action has been take on Commissioner Syed Hussain. Vellore Congress Committee President G Suresh Kumar questioned why any tough action like suspension was not initiated against the officer as his action was communal.

In 2021, Assistant Commissioner, Jehangir Badshah had forced Hindus to work on Deepavali in Tirunelveli, TN. Hindu employees were sent home only after Hindu Munnani intervened. Mohammed Iftikharuddin, a senior IAS officer in UP, who called on Muslim youth to convert everyone to Islam should be remembered here.