Thiruvananthapuram: Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran has said that there was an attempt to trigger a riot across the state and hence he interfered to stop the entry of two women at Sabarimala on Friday.
“I interfered after I got information about a move to trigger a major riot in the state. It could be even suspected that there was a deliberate attempt to create tension at Sabarimala,” he said in a Facebook post
The minister further said that, “There was not much protest for about two and a half hours of trekking by the two women activists from Pampa to Nadapandal (near Sannidhanam). This points fingers at the possibilities of some undercurrents. There was an attempt to spread violence across the state once the two women steps on the 18 holy steps. Government has no obligation to stand by those trying to take undue advantages by creating a blood shed at Sannidhanam.”
Kadakampally earlier told reporters that the government would not support attempts by activists to prove their strength or win their stands. The holy place of Sabarimala should not be made a place for activists to show their strength. Government was only bound to protect the interests of devotees in the wake of the Supreme Court order lifting the restrictions of entry of women.
He also said that the Thantris of Sabarimala had the rights to examine whether there was violation of any customs and what were the corrective measures required. But so far there was no issue of any custom violation at Sabarimala.
