BJP general secretary, 71 others granted bail
A court here on Wednesday granted conditional bail to 72 people, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary K Surendran, who were arrested in connection with the Sabarimala temple row.
Surendran, along with two others had been arrested on November 18 from Nilackal as they tried to proceed to the Lord Ayyappa Temple after being advised by police personnel against visiting Sabarimala due to law and order issues.
The 69 others were arrested after they chanted the deity’s mantras inside the shrine complex late on Sunday, defying prohibitory orders.
The Munsif court which heard the case granted bail to all the 72 people were with strict conditions. They have been asked to not enter Ranni taluk, where the temple is located, for two months, and they have been directed to submit two personal sureties of ₹20,000 each.
The court also rejected the plea of the accused to permit them to visit the hill shrine during the two-month-long “mandala makaravillaku” pilgrim season.
Restrictions have been imposed at the Lord Ayyappa temple following protests by devotees and activists of the BJP and the RSS over the state government’s decision to implement the September 28 Supreme Court order.
The hill shrine was opened on November 16 evening for the over two-month-long pilgrimage season amid tension.
PATHNAMTHITTA:
BJP WANTS KERALA IPS OFFICER SUSPENDED
The Bharatiya Janata Party wants the Superintendent of Police Yathish Chandra suspended for alleged rude behaviour with union minister of state for finance and shipping Pon Radhakrishnan when he came to pay obeisance at the Sabarimala temple on Wednesday.
Kerala BJP General Secretary AN Radhakrishnan told reporters that they would take up the matter with the State Police chief.
“Yesterday, we all saw the way this person Chandra was standing with folded hands before the Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala and today he was speaking with his sunglasses on and with utmost arrogance (with Pon Radhakrishnan).
“We wish to know if he behaved rudely because our minister is dark-complexioned, while he and Chennithala are fair and handsome,” said Radhakrishnan who was present with the minister.