"Devasom Board turned into a brokers' body," Kerala BJP hits out at govt over Sabarimala gold theft row

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], October 22 (ANI): Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrashekhar has slammed the state government over the Sabarimala gold theft row, in view of President Droupadi Murmu's visit to Kerala.
Before the President's arrival, speaking on the issue, Chandrashekhar said, "President Droupadi Murmu is visiting Kerala for four days. During her visit, she will visit the Sabarimala temple to seek blessings. We informed her about the shocking events unfolding in Sabarimala. The President was very shocked to hear this. The Devasom Board is converted into an organisation of brokers. God only knows how many years and how much loot both the Congress and CPM have done."
He urged the authorities to take strict action against those involved and ensure transparency in temple administration.
Earlier today, President Droupadi Murmu offered prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, according to a PRD release. Devaswom Minister V. N. Vasavan received President Murmu.
President Murmu arrived at Thiruvananthapuram Airport for a four-day official visit from October 21 to 24.
On Tuesday, Chandrasekhar demanded the resignation of Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan and the dissolution of Travancore Devaswom Board over the Sabarimala gold "theft" issue. He also accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of trying to "brush the issue under the carpet."
"Our position as the BJP has been a sharp contrast with the attempts of the CM to try and brush this under the carpet. When 4.5 kgs of gold from a sacred shrine like Sabarimala go missing, we consider it a crime...So, we have maintained from day 1 that this cannot be possible in a CPI(M) Govt, nothing moves in the CPI(M) govt without the CM giving his nod," Chandrasekhar told ANI.
He alleged a larger conspiracy and wanted the investigation to cover the last 30-year period.
Earlier this month, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Kerala High Court arrested Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case.
Unnikrishnan Potti's arrest pertains to the theft of gold plating from the sanctum's wooden panels and the Dwarapalaka (door guardian) sculptures at Sabarimala temple. The action comes on the fifth day of the court-monitored SIT probe.
Earlier, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president, P.S. Prasanth, suspended Assistant Engineer K. Sunil Kumar for his alleged involvement in the Sabarimala gold theft case. Kumar has been named as an accused in the case.
Prasanth said that the Kerala government, along with the Devaswom Board, has a clear stance that lost property must be recovered and culprits must be punished. He further stated that "protest against the Devaswom Board and attacks on employees" was regrettable since the Board was moving while upholding all rituals and traditions. (ANI)