Thiruvananthapuram: A group of MLAs from Madhya Pradesh, their relatives and officials were allegedly stopped from entering the sanctum sanctorum of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple on Sunday.
The security guard prevented the 24-member group, comprising of seven MLAs, at the entrance near the main flag post. The issue was sorted out in about ten minutes following the intervention of top temple officials.
It is learnt that in a report given to the government on the incident, the temple authorities maintained that the security guard prevented the group from entering the temple jumping the queue as devotees waiting in the queue for quite some time raised objections.
Legislature secretary P. Jayalekshmi said that though the incident could be considered as an insult to the guests, the MLAs had not yet given any complaint.
“We will discuss the issue with Speaker and decide on whether to seek a report from the temple authorities,” she said.
The legislators were part of a 15-member delegation of MLAs of the petitions committee of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly on a study tour. Though they were earlier scheduled to visit the temple on Saturday evening, it was postponed due to their late arrival. The change of timing was also informed at the temple, said the state legislative secretariat sources.
On Sunday morning, the group accompanied by a legislature secretariat staff reached the temple, and the executive officer gave permission in writing to enter the sanctum sanctorum through the entrance near the flag post. A police personnel on duty on temple premises also accompanied them. But the security guard prevented them.
The police immediately reported the matter to the executive officer’s office and senior officials reached the spot and allowed the group to enter the sanctum sanctorum.
