Sabarimala Temple Gold Theft Controversy: BJP Protests Intensify Against Kerala Government

Kozhikode:

BJP workers clashed with Kerala police this afternoon as protests escalated against the Left government over alleged theft of gold plates from the Sabarimala temple.

Police deployed water cannons to disperse hundreds of BJP protesters who had gathered in Kozhikode for a march to the Collector's office, led by former state BJP president K Surendran. Footage showed demonstrators attempting to breach police barricades. Many protesters were subsequently detained.

Meanwhile, a separate confrontation unfolded in the Kerala assembly, where the Congress-led United Democratic Front disrupted proceedings for the fourth consecutive day regarding alleged irregularities in the gold plating of idols at the Lord Ayyappa shrine.

The controversy centers on the diminished weight of gold-plated coverings on 'Dwarapalaka' idols at the temple. The Kerala High Court ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising senior officers to investigate the matter on Monday, following a Devaswom Vigilance report that highlighted a significant discrepancy.

This revelation triggered a tumultuous assembly session, with Congress alleging that gold plates had vanished from the temple's sanctum sanctorum.

The BJP, energized by securing its first Lok Sabha seat in Kerala last year, has aggressively pursued this issue. The party has presented three demands: a CBI investigation, the resignation of Devaswom minister VN Vasavan, and the public disclosure of temple records spanning the past 30 years.

"They looted crores from the Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case and other airport-based gold smuggling cases. Now they are looting Devaswom treasures, like they recently did in Sabarimala. We are demanding a free and fair inquiry. The BJP demands that this case be handed over to the CBI," stated Surendran.

BJP leader V Muraleedharan, a former Union minister, criticized Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's silence and alleged inaction by the Devaswom minister.

In the assembly in Thiruvananthapuram, Opposition Leader VD Satheesan declared that Congress would persist with its protest. He alleged the original temple idols were sold and demanded accountability from those responsible, including the resignation of the Devaswom minister.

"Till then, we will continue with our protest," Satheesan affirmed.

The assembly has been experiencing disruptions since Monday due to the gold-plating controversy.