The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Kozhikode regional president, K. Shreekanth, has strongly criticized the Malabar Devaswom Board chairman. This comes after the chairman issued a show cause notice to an employee who dared to challenge the board’s decision in the Kerala High Court. The employee’s petition questioned the board’s plan to spend temple funds on a “Global Ayyappa Sangamam” event.
Kinavoor Edam Sree Kiratheswara temple clerk, A.V. Ramachandran Nair, had taken legal action against the Malabar Devaswom Board. He was subsequently accused of defaming the temple by spreading “fake news” and filing a case without the temple committee’s knowledge, leading to the disciplinary notice.
Mr. Shreekanth unequivocally labeled the board chairman’s action against the employee as “undemocratic.”
An Alleged Attempt to Suppress Dissent
“Employees of the Malabar Devaswom Board are not slaves,” asserted Mr. Shreekanth. “Both devotees and staff members have every right to question decisions driven by political motives.” He described the board’s move as a clear attempt to quash any opposing views through disciplinary measures.
Addressing the board chairman, A. Madhu, Mr. Shreekanth highlighted the hypocrisy, noting that Madhu himself had previously protested over unpaid dues but was now denying the same right to his subordinates.
Furthermore, Mr. Shreekanth issued a warning: if temple funds are indeed misused for the Ayyappa Sangamam in defiance of the High Court’s directives, the BJP will stand firmly behind the protesting devotees.
He lambasted the board, claiming it operates primarily to appease its political superiors while completely disregarding the fundamental welfare and benefits of its employees.
Mr. Shreekanth urged both the government and the board to take immediate action to address the legitimate grievances of its workforce.