Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], October 11 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader V Muraleedharan on Saturday slammed the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led government in Kerala for attempting to suppress public protests over the alleged theft of gold from the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple.
Speaking to reporters, Muraleedharan said, "The protests over the Sabarimala robbery are being suppressed by the government... The march to the office of the Devaswom Minister today in Kottayam was met by the CPI(M) by resorting to strong-arm tactics and unleashing an attack on the participants of that agitation."
He further alleged that the state government was evading questions raised by devotees and instead using force to silence dissent. "This approach of the government shows that they have no answer to the questions being raised by the devotees... Instead of replying, they are trying to silence and attack those who have resorted to protest," he said.
Muraleedharan asserted that the BJP would continue to raise the issue before the people.
"I would like to bring to their attention that you cannot suppress these agitations of the devotees by resorting to such tactics of unleashing hooliganism on the protesters... The BJP will raise these before the people. The government will have to reply to these issues, bring those people who are involved before the law and also ensure that every single gram of gold that has been stolen from Sabrimala is returned," he added.
Earlier in the day, BJP leader Tarun Chugh launched a scathing attack on the Kerala government over the ongoing Sabarimala temple gold plating controversy, alleging large-scale corruption and misuse of temple resources, and stated that the Devaswom Board and the ministers involved in the alleged irregularities must be exposed.
Speaking to ANI, Chugh claimed that the Left-led Kerala government had turned Hindu temples into "a hub of corruption" and demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the matter."...Kerala's leftist government has turned Hindu temples into a hub of corruption...The state government has influence on SIT investigations...Accountability and a thorough investigation are needed...Devaswom board and ministers involved in this corruption must be exposed....Kerala's left government has been looting temple gold for many years now..." Chugh told ANI.
The BJP leader accused the state government of systematically mismanaging religious institutions under its control and called for transparency in the functioning of temple boards.
Meanwhile, Kerala BJP leader Anoop Antony Joseph claimed that both the CPM and Congress are plotting a conspiracy to destroy the Sabarimala temple.
Speaking on the Sabarimala gold theft issue, Anoop Antony Joseph stated that it had been carried out with the knowledge of the Devaswom Board."The CPM and the Congress have been plotting a conspiracy to destroy the temple. It was done with the knowledge of the Devaswom minister and the Devaswom board. Everything is linked to CM Pinarayi Vijayan directly," Joseph told ANI.
He further demanded a comprehensive investigation with active participation of the Central agencies, and also demanded the resignation of VN Vasavan, Devaswom board minister."The BJP demands that first, the investigation should be comprehensive. The Central agency has to come in on that kind of investigation. Devaswom board minister, VN Vasavan, should resign immediately," he said.