ALAPPUZHA: The government stepped in a day after Travancore Devaswom Board failed to meet Sudhikumar at its headquarters in the state capital. On Tuesday, it asked the Devaswom commissioner to uphold the transfer order of the non-Brahmin priest to Chettikulangara temple. Mr Sudhikumar had expressed his willingness to become Keezsaanthi there in writing to TDB secretary. Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran said he had asked the commissioner to implement it. Asked if he would abide the order, he said: “He must appoint Sudhi-kumar to Chettikulan-gara temple at earliest.”
Meanwhile, despite repeated attempts, commissioner C.P. Rama Raja Prema Prasad did not respond. Earlier, Devaswom secretary had served a show cause notice on Mr Prasad for not upholding the government decision. Commissioner C.P. Rama Raja Prema Prasad defended himself saying he was following Thanthri Plakkudi Unnikrishnan Namboodiri's advice that a non-Brahmin priest at Chettikulangara will have grave consequences. TDB president Prayar Gopalakrishnan remains unconvinced. He feigned ignorance about the minister’s order. "I cannot say when a decision on this would arrive at," he told DC.
"Right now I can say we would decide in two days. So far there is no decision in this regard. I have nothing more to say." Also on Tuesday, CPM Mavelikara area committee staged a dharna before Chettikulangara temple. "Mr Sudhikumar must be here as Keezhsaathi. If the TDB refuses to fall in line, we will continue protests," areas secretary Madhusudhanan said.
