Kochi, Oct 29 (UNI) A controversy has erupted over Hindutva commentator Vidyasagar Gurumurthy’s claim that Velankanni Church, one of Tamil Nadu’s prominent Christian pilgrimage centres, was originally a temple dedicated to Lord Murugan, with Hindu Aikya Vedi leader Bhargava Ram backing his contention and calling for an open debate involving historians to examine the historical claims.