Thiruvannthgapuram: Sabarimala tantri Kantaru Rajeevaru’ position has become shaky with the Travancore Devaswom Board asking him to explain within 15 days why he had shut down the temple in violation of the spirit of the Supreme Court verdict, lifting the ban on women of menstrual age worshiping at sannidhanam.
Tantri Rajeevaru had closed the temple for nearly an hour for carrying out purification after he confirmed that two young women — Bindu Ammini and Kanaka Durga — had darshan at the sannidhanam.
TDB president A Padmakumar told media persons that the explanation was sought on the basis of the report filed by board commissioner N. Vasu at the board meeting on Friday. Mr Padmakumar said the tantri had called him soon after the women’s visit but before he could say anything the tantri said “sudhi kalasam” had to be undertaken and ended the conversation.
“It is clear that the tantri has violated the letter and spirit of the top court verdict. He has to explain under what circumstances did he shut down the temple.
He had to take the permission of the board before resorting to any such measure”, said Mr Padmakumar.
Already Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had opined that if the tantri could not obey the SC order, his only option was to step down. Law Minister A K Balan also echoed the same logic. On Friday, Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar joined his Cabinet colleagues in asking the tantri to quit.
Sources said the tantri has developed cold feet after the Chief Minister public censure for acting in defiance of the SC verdict and heeding the advice given by Pandalam ex-royals.
