Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday criticized Kerala’s attitude in the Sabarimala gold theft case and questioned the state’s ability to protect the temple treasures.
Shah demanded that the investigation be handed over to an impartial agency and alleged that two Kerala ministers were under suspicion. He accused Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of failing to ensure a fair investigation and said that unless the investigation is handed over to any other agency, the BJP will agitate and spread awareness across Kerala.
Addressing a gathering of newly elected local body representatives in Thiruvananthapuram today, Shah said, “Those who failed to protect the treasures of the Sabarimala temple, can they protect our faith? If anyone can protect the fundamental faith of Kerala, it is only the BJP. This theft is not only a matter of faith of the people of Kerala, but the entire nation is watching you (Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan) with great apprehension. I have seen the FIR And the virus has been planted in it. How can you get justice and conduct an impartial investigation? I demand that the Chief Minister of Kerala hand over the investigation to an impartial agency, Pinarayi Vijayan. And you will have to hand over the investigation. Pinarayi Vijayan, your time has come.”
The Sabarimala gold theft case alleges the alleged misappropriation of about 4.54 kg of gold from the holy temple artefacts, including the door frames of the Srikovil (sanctum sanctorum) and the idols of Dvarapalakas (guardian deities).
On 9 January 2026, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested Kandararu Rajeevaru, the senior Tantrik (head priest) of the temple. They are accused of criminal conspiracy and giving “tacit permission” to remove gold-plated artefacts from the temple premises in violation of religious rituals.
The theft allegedly took place in 2019 under the pretext of polishing and gold plating the temple artefacts.
Shah said the BJP’s support in Kerala is continuously increasing and expressed confidence that the party will form the government in the upcoming state elections. He also launched a scathing attack on the ruling Left Democratic Front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front in the state.
Shah also criticized the LDF and UDF governments of Kerala, alleging that they were unable to protect the state from “divisive forces” like Jamaat-e-Islami, PFI and SDPI, and claimed that these organizations were vote banks.
The Union Home Minister said, “Friends, tell me: Can LDF and UDF save Kerala from Jamaat-e-Islami, PFI and now rapidly rising SDPI? They cannot. PFI, SDPI and Jamaat-e-Islami are their vote banks; they will never take any action against them. If anyone can save Kerala from their divisive agenda, it is BJP.”
Shah highlighted the BJP’s initiatives, such as abolishing triple talaq and implementing the Wagf law to curb corruption, and pointed out that these steps are being opposed by the LDF and UDF. He questioned the Kerala Chief Minister about securing 400 acres of land in Ernakulam from the Vagaf Board, protecting land rights and maintaining the dignity of Muslim women, and stressed the BJP’s stance of “justice for all, appeasement of none”.
Shah said, “We are abolishing triple talaq, and both LDF and UDF are opposing it. Today I want to ask a direct question to the Kerala Chief Minister: Do Muslim women have the right to live a dignified life or not? We are bringing a law to end corruption in the Waqt Board, which both of them are opposing. Today I want to ask a direct question: 400 acres of land of 600 Christian and Hindu families in Ernakulam will be given to the Waqt Board. What are your views about protecting that land? LDF and UDF cannot save Kerala from all this because they have made appeasement their policy, and that is why BJP’s policy is justice for all and appeasement of none.”
Shah criticized balanced development while emphasizing the needs of Kerala.
To depend on the money received by the LDF and UDF governments from Keralites living abroad.
He said, “Kerala’s development should be balanced. The LDF and UDF governments in Kerala are satisfied with the remittances sent by Keralites working abroad. While appreciating the Keralites working abroad, I would like to ask the LDF and UDF whether it is the responsibility of the Kerala government to support those families whose members do not send money from abroad. Whose responsibility is it to bring reforms for those millions? Today I want to tell the people of Kerala this I have come to tell that wherever BJP and NDA have come to power, they have transformed those states into developed states.”
Shah said BJP-led states have achieved transformation and Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers a balanced development model. He urged Kerala to move away from remittance dependent development towards inclusive development for all citizens.
Shah further said, “Prime Minister Modi has presented a balanced development model to the world. Kerala should also abandon the idea of remittance-based, one-dimensional development and plan for the development of every citizen of Kerala.”
Shah announced the growing influence of the BJP in Kerala, citing rising vote share: 11% (2014), 16% (2019) and 20% (2024). Shah estimates that the BJP’s vote share will reach 30-40% by 2026 with the aim of securing the chief minister’s post. He highlighted the victory in local elections (30 gram panchayats, 2 municipalities and the election of the mayor of Thiruvananthapuram) and attributed it to the sacrifices of party workers.
Shah said, “The people of Kerala are extending their support to the BJP, and our support is increasing. We got 11% votes in 2014; 16% in 2019; and 20% in 2024. Now the journey from 20% to 30% and 40% will not be very long, and we will prove it in 2026. We have achieved this feat in the entire country, but now it is Kerala’s turn. This time the Chief Minister of BJP will be elected in Kerala. We have won 30 Gram Panchayats, and our Mayor is currently working in Thiruvananthapuram. This victory has been possible only because of the sacrifices of our hundreds of party workers. Today, with utmost humility, I want to dedicate this victory to those hundreds of party workers. Who have spent time in jail.”
Amit Shah criticized Kerala’s LDF and UDF, accusing them of hindering the state’s progress through “match fixing”. Shah urged Keralites to choose NDA over BJP for development, security and protection of religious beliefs and cited the decline of Communist and Congress parties at the global and national level. He stressed on a humble approach and a clear vision for the future of Kerala.
He further said, “Match-fixing between the LDF and the UDF has stalled the development of this state of immense potential, and our Kerala is facing a strange kind of stagnation. But I have come to this workers’ conference to appeal to the people of Kerala: The path to the future of Kerala, be it development, security or defense of our beliefs, cannot be achieved through the LDF or the UDF. Communist parties have disappeared all over the world, and the Congress Party is disappearing across our country. Now, the path to development of Kerala lies only with Narendra Modi’s NDA. There is a need to approach the people of Kerala with humility and clear vision.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah described BJP’s victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation elections as an important step towards the formation of the BJP government in Kerala. Shah outlined the BJP’s goals: to develop Kerala, protect faith and counter anti-national forces. He stressed on Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a developed India by 2047 and linked Kerala’s progress to national development.
He further said, “This victory is not our goal. But it is a step towards achieving our goal. Our ultimate goal is to form a government in Kerala under the lotus symbol and bring in a BJP Chief Minister. Our goal is to make Kerala fully developed. And to save Kerala from anti-national forces. To protect the power of faith that has existed in Kerala for centuries. The people of Kerala also believe that the UDF and LDF cannot accomplish all these three tasks; only the one led by Narendra Modi Only NDA can do this. Narendra Modi has envisioned to make this country a developed India by 2047. I have come here today to tell the people of Kerala that the path to a developed India passes through a developed Kerala.
Last month, the BJP-led NDA created history in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation by wresting control of the corporation and ending the 40-year rule of the LDF.
Of the 101 wards of Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, NDA got 50 seats, LDF 29, UDF 19 seats and two seats were won by independent candidates.
The BJP’s victory is a major blow to the Congress-led UDF and the Left parties as the NDA continues to make a dent in their vote share and is emerging as a third front in the state.