In a bold standoff at Cliff House, Kerala BJP president Rajiv Chandrasekhar on Tuesday called for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to apologize to Lord Ayyappa over the botched Sabarimala gold theft probe. The fiery ‘Ayyappa Jyoti’ rally saw lamps lit and voices raised against what BJP terms a cover-up.
Workers accused the LDF government of protecting influential brokers linked to CPI(M) and Congress, while scapegoating the temple’s tantri. Chandrasekhar highlighted the priest’s arrest as hasty and evidence-free, ignoring court remarks on the lack of proof.
The SIT’s role came under fire, with claims it shielded Devaswom officials to bury the scam’s roots. BJP insists this was a ploy to distract from the massive gold disappearance at the iconic shrine.
Pressing their agenda, the party seeks CBI intervention, retraction of the state’s Supreme Court filing, and quashing of fabricated charges against devotees. The protest amplified long-standing grievances over Sabarimala’s management post the women entry verdict.
The Supreme Court added intrigue by questioning the temple’s remaining gold reserves in an accused’s bail plea, postponing to March 9. With 13 arrests, including six on bail, the case continues to simmer, fueling BJP’s narrative of political interference in religious matters.
As tensions rise, Sabarimala devotees watch closely, hoping for accountability in this high-stakes theft saga.