Pooram chaos: BJP, Thiruvambady conspired; Suresh Gopi spread false claims, says Cochin Devaswom
Kochi: The Cochin Devaswom Board has accused the Thiruvambady Devaswom of colluding with BJP leaders, alleging that this conspiracy disrupted the Thrissur Pooram. The board also stated that disruptions like these could recur in the future. In an affidavit submitted to the High Court, Devaswom secretary P Bindu sought to form a high-power committee under the Devaswom Board to oversee the event's management.
The affidavit claimed that the Thiruvambady Devaswom delayed the fireworks, which were scheduled for 3 am, until 7.15 am. It further alleged that the actions of the Thiruvambady representatives supported attempts by BJP leaders to exploit the Pooram disruption for influencing the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The presence of BJP district president Adv Aneesh Kumar and other leaders like Adv B Gopalakrishnan and Valsan Thillankeri was cited as evidence strengthening this suspicion.
The affidavit also accused BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate Suresh Gopi of spreading false information that the Pooram was disrupted and claiming credit for resolving the situation.
The Cochin Devaswom Board has demanded that future editions of the Thrissur Pooram be conducted under the full control of the proposed high-power committee, which would operate in coordination with the district administration and the Thrissur Corporation.
The affidavit was filed in response to a petition by BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan, who alleged that the district police chief’s intervention caused chaos at the Pooram.
A bench, comprising Justice Anil K Narendran and Justice S Muralikrishnan, directed the petitioner to file a counter-affidavit.
While the Thiruvambady Devaswom informed the court that they had already submitted a counter-affidavit, it had not been uploaded by evening.
Key points from the affidavit
Recurring complaints against police controls: While there were complaints against police-imposed restrictions, the affidavit noted that such grievances arise every year and are usually resolved amicably to ensure the Pooram proceeds without disruptions. It termed the campaign blaming restrictions for the Pooram’s problems as a recent trend.
Participant list discrepancy: The Paramekkavu Devaswom provided a list of only 160 participants, including workers, who were allowed to stay in the Pooram ground during the fireworks. The Thiruvambady Devaswom, however, insisted on allowing all their preferred individuals into the ground.
Lack of elephants impacted sub-poorams: The affidavit highlighted that both Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms failed to provide elephants, which diminished the grandeur of associated Poorams.
Historical perspective: The affidavit reiterated that Thrissur Pooram is not exclusive to any particular temple or community, but a public celebration organised as per the 1796 decree of Sakthan Thampuran.