GURUVAYUR: Alleging large-scale corruption and discrepancies in temple administration, the BJP on Thursday announced that it will launch a massive protest against irregularities in Kerala’s Devaswom Boards and demanded a CBI investigation.
BJP state general secretary M T Ramesh, addressing a press conference in Guruvayur, said the party would begin a direct agitation against what he described as “rampant corruption” in the Devaswom Boards, which, he alleged, are functioning as “cash cows” under CPM control.
He said that following the revelations of irregularities at Sabarimala, similar issues have now surfaced in the Cochin, Travancore, and Malabar Devaswom Boards.
Referring to the theft of the gold plate of the Dwarapalaka (gatekeeper) idol at Sabarimala, Ramesh alleged that the Devaswom Board president had dismissed it as mere “stories,” while the Chief Minister defended the board.
“The truth came out only after the High Court intervened,” he said.
Citing audit reports, Ramesh said there were clear indications of financial discrepancies in the Guruvayur Devaswom Board.
“There is no proper record of gold accounts. The entire stock of gold and silver should be verified and recorded under High Court supervision,” he demanded.
He alleged that devotees’ offerings (kanikka) are being deposited in cooperative banks and Kerala Bank, violating the rule that they must be placed in nationalised banks.
“If these institutions fail, there is no government guarantee,” he warned, citing the case of Thirunelli Temple under the Malabar Devaswom Board, where funds deposited in a cooperative institution reportedly became inaccessible.
Appointment Irregularities: The BJP leader further alleged that CPM party workers are being appointed as temporary employees in Guruvayur Devaswom and that Rs 500 is being collected from job seekers to conduct recruitment exams.
Ramesh demanded the resignation of the Devaswom Minister and a CBI inquiry into all irregularities in the state’s Devaswom Boards.
Ramesh said that a mass campaign would be launched against corruption in the Devaswom Boards and that a Secretariat protest would begin on Friday.
He cautioned the newly appointed Guruvayur Devaswom Administrator not to “collude with corrupt practices” and assured that the BJP would support anyone exposing wrongdoing in the Guruvayur Devaswom Board.
He added that the assets of the Guruavuyr Devaswom Boards are estimated to be worth around Rs 13,000 crore.
Following the press conference, a protest march was held under the leadership of the BJP North District Committee.
The march was inaugurated by M T Ramesh and presided over by the district president Adv. C. Niveditha. Leaders, including V. Unnikrishnan, K.R. Aneesh Master, Adv. Jayasuryan, M.V. Ullass, Vipin Kudiyedath, Subhash Mannarath, Subhash Adoor, and Anil Mancharampath led the demonstration.
Devaswom Board’s Response Meanwhile, Guruvayur Devaswom Chairman Dr. V K Vijayan dismissed the BJP’s allegations as “baseless propaganda” intended to mislead devotees.
In a press release, Dr. Vijayan said all gold, silver, and valuables received by the Devaswom are accurately recorded in the stock register and that “not a speck” of gold or valuables is missing.
The Devaswom administration, he added, would take strong legal action against those spreading false and defamatory information through print, visual, or social media.
“The Devaswom Committee strongly protests attempts to mislead the devotee community with false propaganda,” the statement said.
