BJP Kerala Intensifies Sabarimala Gold Heist Protest with Ayyappa Jyothi at Chief Minister's Residence
In a dramatic escalation of its ongoing agitation over the Sabarimala gold heist, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit in Kerala organized a symbolic lighting of Ayyappa Jyothi (lamps) near Cliff House, the official residence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on Tuesday. The protest aimed to highlight the party's demands for a thorough investigation and accountability in the theft of temple gold.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar Leads Charge Against CPM and Congress
Inaugurating the protest, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar delivered a scathing critique of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the opposition Congress. He asserted that the BJP would not allow the chief minister and CPM to dismiss the gold heist as a mere lapse by certain individuals. Chandrasekhar emphasized that both CPM and Congress share equal responsibility for the theft, which he claimed occurred over an extended period.
Chandrasekhar accused Congress of failing to protest when the Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested Sabarimala tanthri (chief priest) Kandararu Rajeevaru. According to the BJP leader, this arrest was a tactical move to resist pressure to apprehend former devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran. He urged Congress to cease attempts to gain political leverage from the issue, vowing that BJP would focus on exposing the party's double standards regarding Sabarimala over the next 30 days.
Demands for CBI Probe and Supreme Court Action
Chandrasekhar highlighted that six months have passed since news of the gold heist emerged, yet the SIT has been unable to identify the perpetrators. He alleged that the arrest of the tanthri was a distraction to divert public attention. "What else was the reason? BJP will not let the CM fool the public," he declared.
The BJP state chief called on the government to:
- File a new affidavit before the Supreme Court to uphold the traditions and customs of Sabarimala.
- Hand over the gold heist case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for an impartial probe.
- Withdraw all cases registered against individuals who protested the violation of traditions at the hill shrine in 2018.
Former Union Minister Criticizes SIT's Handling
Former Union minister V Muraleedharan joined the protest, criticizing the SIT's approach. He noted that while the SIT recorded statements from Congress MP Adoor Prakash and Surendran, it detained the Sabarimala tanthri for 40 days. Muraleedharan pointed out the hypocrisy of the CPM state secretary, who gave a clean chit to Surendran but branded the tanthri as a thief. He alleged that the tanthri was targeted solely because he is a Hindu priest, raising concerns about religious bias in the investigation.
The protest underscores the BJP's strategy to keep the Sabarimala gold heist in the political spotlight, leveraging it to challenge both the ruling and opposition parties in Kerala. With demands for a CBI probe and judicial intervention, the issue continues to simmer as a key point of contention in the state's political landscape.
