Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has intensified his attack on the state government, characterising the alleged irregularities at the Sabarimala temple as a "grave act of sacrilege" that extends far deeper than the missing gold. Expressing his personal pain as an Ayyappa devotee, the BJP chief took to social media to demand an immediate Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, arguing that the current state-led inquiry is insufficient to tackle the scale of the crime.
According to Chandrasekhar, the looting at the hill shrine involves more than just the reported 4.5 kg of gold. He alleged that under the LDF-appointed Devaswom Board, four sacred Panchaloha idols were removed from the temple and sold into international criminal networks. He further claimed that the desecration has historical roots, pointing to the sacred "pathinettam padi" (18 steps); he alleged that parts of these steps, replaced in 2015 during the UDF regime, were later tampered with and looted.
The BJP leader didn’t mince words regarding the political landscape, describing the situation as a long-term conspiracy. He suggested that the betrayal of devotees began under the Congress-led UDF and was "perfected" under the CPI(M)-led LDF. By calling for a CBI investigation, Chandrasekhar signalled that the party has no faith in the existing Special Investigation Team (SIT), which he believes cannot uncover the full truth behind such a complex, cross-border network.
The controversy has already seen significant legal movement. The SIT recently informed a Vigilance Court that Pankaj Bhandari of Smart Creations and Ballari-based jeweller Govardhan Roddam were central figures in the conspiracy to steal gold from temple artifacts. Both men were arrested last week. Despite these arrests, Chandrasekhar accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of attempting to downplay the crisis by labelling it a mere "slip-up."
Concluding his statement with the chant "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa," the BJP state chief vowed that the party would continue its struggle until every detail of the alleged sacrilege is brought to light and justice is served for millions of devotees worldwide.
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