Thiruvananthapuram, June 27 (IANS) Escalating its campaign over issues relating to Sabarimala, BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Saturday urged Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan to order a CBI probe into the alleged disappearance of gold from the hill shrine and unconditionally withdraw all criminal cases registered against Ayyappa devotees during the Sabarimala protests.

In a letter to Chief Minister Satheesan, Chandrasekhar said the issues were of immense significance to millions of Ayyappa devotees in Kerala and across the world and called for immediate government intervention to restore the confidence of the faithful.

Referring to the controversies surrounding Sabarimala over the past several years, Chandrasekhar said the developments that began in 2018 had deeply hurt the sentiments of devotees.

He said the subsequent reports regarding the alleged loss of gold from the temple in 2025 had further heightened concerns over the security and management of temple assets.

The BJP leader said his party had consistently raised these issues even during the tenure of the previous government and expressed the hope that the new administration would take fair, timely and decisive action.

Chandrasekhar sought two specific measures from the government.

He demanded that the State recommend a CBI investigation into all allegations relating to the missing gold to establish the truth and ensure transparency and accountability in the protection of temple assets.

He also called for the unconditional withdrawal of all cases registered against devotees who participated in protests seeking protection of Sabarimala’s traditional customs.

The BJP leader said the government had a responsibility to safeguard the faith, rights and traditions associated with the shrine and urged it to act without delay in the larger interest of devotees.

At the same time, Chandrasekhar warned that if the government failed to take a satisfactory decision on the two demands, the BJP would be compelled to launch a statewide peaceful mass agitation to protect the rights and beliefs of Ayyappa devotees.

He expressed confidence that the Chief Minister would intervene to ensure justice, withdraw all pending cases against devotees and take necessary steps to protect devotees’ rights while preserving social harmony and public order.

The letter comes amid the BJP’s renewed attempt to make Sabarimala a key political issue, with the party seeking to keep alive allegations surrounding the temple’s administration and the handling of cases registered during the 2018 agitation.

–IANS

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