Sabarimala violence: Kerala CM blames RSS; BJP demands probe
A day after devotees opposing entry of women into Sabarimala Temple clashed with the police at Nilackal, the Kerala government Thursday charged that the RSS was trying to "destroy" the Lord Ayyappa shrine by "unleashing terror".
The BJP, however, countered the allegation, saying the CPI(M)-led LDF government was trying to tarnish the Ayyappa Temple and was responsible for creating tension at the holy shrine.
Blocking devotees from proceeding to the Ayyappa Temple and forcing them to return by creating terror were part of the RSS-Sangh Parivar's move to "destroy" Sabarimala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan charged in a Facebook post.
The chief minister claimed that right wing forces had always been disturbed due to the unique nature of Sabarimala temple where devotees, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, offer worship.
"RSS is trying to destroy the Lord Ayyappa shrine by unleashing terror,"the Chief Minister alleged.
"The final objective of the Sangh Parivar forces is to establish the upper caste dominance by destroying the acceptance enjoyed by all sections of the society at the shrine," he said, reports PTI.
Making it clear that the government would not allow the temple to be turned into a "riot zone", he said any attempt to check people from trekking the holy hills would be dealt with.
Reacting to developments at Sabarimala, BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai Thursday demanded a judicial probe into the circumstances that led to the violence and lathicharge by police against protesters at Nilackal, the base camp.
Pillai said the police had "deliberately" triggered provocation and turned Sabarimala into a "war zone".
He also alleged that police personnel had destroyed the make-shift shelter put by the devotees to conduct their prayer meeting protest at Nilackal.
"We also saw on TV, the policemen threw away the framed pictures of Lord Ayyappa," Pillai charged and questioned the police action of arresting and evicting even senior members of tantri family and Pandalam Palace who were conducting a peaceful protest at Pamba.
He said the party would continue its support to the devotees and protest at Nilackal till October 22, the day when the Ayyappa shrine would be closed.
Criticising the decision of the police to impose prohibitory orders under Section 144 at Sannidhanam (the temple complex), Nilackal and Pamba, the BJP leader said the matter would be brought before the Centre.
"Who created tension and how the violence erupted? Why were the media persons attacked? All these things have to be inquired. So, we demand a judicial probe into the incidents," he told reporters here.
The Left government should have placed before the Supreme Court sentiments of women devotees of Lord Ayyappa, Pillai added.
Addressing media, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said, "fascist forces were behind the violence and the government has no ulterior motive in implementing the Apex court order."