State BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar and other party leaders sit on the road outside the secretariat on Saturday as part of the party’s protest against the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple gold theft controversy. | Photo credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
A day and night blockade organized by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in front of the secretariat over the gold ‘theft’ controversy at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple ended here on Saturday with hundreds laying siege to the secretariat on Friday evening and Saturday. Workers from various districts took control of the road in front of the Secretariat from Friday night and sang bhajans and hymns of Lord Ayyappa.
BJP activists blocked all the three gates of the Secretariat. Senior BJP leaders including state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and former Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan were present. Mr. Chandrasekhar, who started the blockade outside the north gate of the Secretariat at 11 am, said that not only the officials but Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan was also involved in the gold theft case and the BJP will not back down until those involved are thrown in jail.
In other temples
Four and a half kilos of gold was looted from Sabarimala alone, while Guruvayur Devaswom stole ₹25 crore. Similarly, properties were looted from Malabar Devaswom and several other temples. “Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan says this is a mistake. It is not a mistake but organized looting,” Mr Chandrasekhar said.
He said that the Special Investigation Team has evidence against Minister Devaswom in the gold theft case. The BJP will continue the agitation till the minister resigns. The Chief Minister should also be ready to dissolve the Travancore Devaswom Committee, he said. He also called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case. It is the mandate of a democratic government to ease the pain and anguish of devotees, he said.
Published – 25 Oct 2025 20:06 IST
