Thiruvananthapuram, February 25 (IANS). Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, after meeting Sabarimala temple tantri (chief priest) Kandararu Rajeevaru in the hospital on Wednesday, accused the CPI(M)-led government of deliberately diverting attention from the alleged gold theft case at Sabarimala.
Let us tell you that Kandararu Rajivaru was released on bail last week after 40 days. Due to ill health he had to be admitted to the hospital. Chandrashekhar said that he had come to meet Rajivaru to know about his health.
Speaking to reporters, the BJP leader said, “I am not supporting whatever is happening in Sabarimala, nor is it my job to comment on the investigation, but arresting the chief priest on the basis of a remand note without any evidence is extremely worrying. The court, while granting bail, also said that there is no evidence against him.”
Chandrashekhar said that the real question is why he was arrested without concrete evidence. He alleged that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), working on instructions given by the Chief Minister when he was the Home Minister, had arrested Devaswom Minister V.N. Tried to divert attention from Vasavan and former minister Kadakampally Surendran.
He claimed that the ministers were being kept under close watch due to alleged negligence, due to which the main accused Unnikrishnan Potti got unhindered entry into the temple and theft of 4.5 kg gold.
Chandrasekhar said, “Why have cases not been registered against people who are constitutionally obliged to protect the temples of Kerala? Why are they not in jail?” He described Tantri’s arrest as a deliberate ploy to divert attention.
He also criticized the comments made against Tantri in the Assembly, saying that it is unfair to target a person who cannot defend himself in the House. Chandrashekhar said that the BJP and the NDA will protect the priests by protesting against any attempt to intimidate or exploit them.
–IANS
OP/DKP
