Sabarimala gold row: Kerala govt rules out tantri change; BJP plans protest on Makara Jyoti day

Kerala: Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan on Tuesday said there were no plans to change the tantri of the Sabarimala temple following the arrest of Kandararu Rajeevaru in connection with the gold loss case.

Speaking to reporters in Kottayam, Vasavan said any decision on the continuation of the tantri could be examined only after the case is concluded and that such matters fall within the jurisdiction of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).

Rajeevaru, the chief priest of Sabarimala, belongs to the ancient Thazamon Madom family, which has traditional rights at the temple. Vasavan reiterated that these customary rights remain intact.

The case relates to the loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and the Sreekovil door frames at the Ayyappa temple after replating of claddings on the artefacts. The Kerala High Court has constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter. Rajeevaru was arrested last week in connection with the Sreekovil gold loss case.

Separately, Vasavan said the state government will file an appeal against a recent Kerala High Court ruling that the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board can no longer prepare lists of candidates for appointment to various posts in the Guruvayoor Devaswom and its aided educational institutions. The order was passed by a division bench on a plea filed by the Guruvayoor Devaswom Employees Union Congress.

BJP announces statewide ‘Sabarimala Protection Jyoti’ protest

Stepping up its protest against the alleged gold theft at Sabarimala, the Bharatiya Janata Party will light the ‘Sabarimala Protection Jyoti’ at more than 10,000 centres across Kerala on Wednesday evening.

The programme, titled ‘Ayyappa Jyoti at homes and in localities’, will be held at 6 pm to coincide with Makara Sankranti and Makara Jyoti day. Large participation is expected from BJP workers and supporters.

Lamps will be lit at BJP offices, temples, public spaces and private homes, in what the party describes as a mass mobilisation to draw attention to alleged lapses in protecting the hill shrine.

Announcing the programme, BJP state general secretary S. Suresh said the protest is aimed at demanding a thorough and impartial investigation into the alleged gold theft and ensuring that all those responsible are held accountable. He reiterated the party’s demand for a CBI probe, alleging that the existing investigation has failed to inspire public confidence.

Suresh accused the ruling CPM and the Congress of collusion, describing the incident as the latest example of what he termed CPM-Congress cooperation. He alleged that political interference has weakened accountability mechanisms linked to temple administration.

According to the BJP, prominent individuals from various sections of society are expected to participate in the Ayyappa Jyoti. With Sabarimala once again emerging as a major flashpoint, the issue is set to remain central to Kerala’s political discourse in the run-up to the April/May Assembly election.