Chaos Erupts in Kerala Assembly Over Sabarimala Gold Plating Controversy
The Kerala Assembly saw high drama on Friday as the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) tried to spark a debate on the missing gold from Sabarimala temple. Their push hit a wall when Speaker A.N. Shamseer blocked the adjournment motion, leading to a bold walkout by opposition members.
At the heart of this Sabarimala gold controversy is a shocking report: someone removed the gold covering from the temple’s sanctum sanctorum idol without permission, and about four kilograms of the precious metal went missing. Devotees of Lord Ayyappa are furious, and the opposition wanted to highlight their "deep anguish" right away.
The UDF, led by V.D. Satheesan, demanded an urgent discussion in the House. But the Speaker shut it down, saying the matter is already in the Kerala High Court and can’t be debated since it’s sub judice. "The House cannot take it up," he ruled firmly.
This comes hot on the heels of Wednesday’s High Court hearing, where judges expressed alarm over the gold plates’ weight mismatch at Sabarimala temple. Back in 2019, officials took 42 kg of plates for gold plating work, but when they returned, four kg had vanished. The court called it a "strange and worrying" issue and ordered a thorough probe into the Sabarimala gold missing mystery.
Satheesan fired back at the Speaker’s decision, pointing out that the assembly has allowed similar motions before, even with court cases ongoing. "The government is just hiding behind rules to dodge accountability," he charged, accusing them of neglecting Sabarimala temple affairs.
Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh hit back hard, blaming the opposition for trying to whip up trouble among Ayyappa devotees. "This is pure frustration. They’re dragging a court matter into the House just to create chaos," he said.
The opposition didn’t back down, slamming the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government for "ongoing neglect" of the iconic Sabarimala shrine. Veteran Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan had filed the notice for the motion, and after it got rejected, the UDF benches stormed out in protest.
Later, Industries Minister P. Rajeeve mocked the walkout, noting the High Court will hear the case again on September 30. "If they’d forced a debate today, they’d look even sillier than they have the past three days," he quipped.
The Sabarimala gold plating scandal has already stirred unrest among devotees and ignited political battles beyond the assembly. With pressure mounting on the Kerala government to ensure the safety of temple treasures, many wonder if this controversy will lead to real answers or just more finger-pointing.
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