V. D. Satheesan, the leader of Kerala’s opposition, fired a harsh critique of the ruling CPI‑M government on Saturday night at the UDF’s Faith Protection Conclave in Pandalam. He accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his administration of hiding a major gold theft from the Sabarimala temple for more than six years.
Speaking to a packed audience, Satheesan demanded that the CM admit the truth and answer the public. “The original Dwarapalaka plates were sold for a huge sum,” he said. “When the court asked who bought them, the government stayed silent. Why did they re‑plate the gold after six years, even though the work was already done in 2019?”
He reminded listeners that the Kerala High Court had exposed irregularities long ago. In 1999, the temple still held nearly 30 kg of gold. The plating of the Dwarapalaka sculpture was carried out by a contractor named Potti with official permission—an action that breached Devaswom Board rules.
Satheesan also named former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, alleging that he had close ties with Potti. “If the theft had gone unnoticed, the same thieves could strike again,” he warned, challenging Surendran to deny the connection.
The opposition leader criticized the CM while standing in Pandalam, a town deeply linked with the Sabarimala deity. According to tradition, Lord Ayyappan once lived as an adopted son of the Pandalam royal family. The yearly Thiruvabharanam procession, which carries sacred ornaments from the Pandalam Palace vault to Sabarimala three days before the Makaravilakku festival, underscores that connection. Pilgrims also visit the nearby Valiyakoikkal Temple, further tying Pandalam to temple affairs.
“This is not just a theft; it’s a betrayal of faith,” Satheesan declared. He vowed that protests would continue until the stolen gold returned to the Ayyappa sanctum.
He also referenced a similar theft at the Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple, calling the looters “people who run the state with pockets full of temple wealth.”
If the United Democratic Front wins the next election, Satheesan promised that within a month, the coalition would drop all cases against protestors who stood up for Sabarimala’s customs and traditions.
Source: ianslive
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