A senior Congress figure, K. Muraleedharan, has strongly condemned both the Central and State governments following the controversial Sabarimala gold theft. He alleges that political motives are behind the incident, which has deeply upset devotees, especially given ongoing concerns about women’s entry into the temple.
Addressing the media in Kasaragod, Muraleedharan reaffirmed the Congress party’s unwavering support for the faithful.
He criticized the Union government, stating, “The Union government, which readily arrests an opposition Chief Minister, is adopting a remarkably different stance towards Pinarayi Vijayan.” Muraleedharan further claimed that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is being used as a tool by the Centre to influence the Kerala Chief Minister.
“Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan appears to be under the sway of the ED, which explains why he criticizes the Congress and Rahul Gandhi more vehemently than the BJP,” Muraleedharan asserted.
Additionally, Muraleedharan clarified that O.J. Janeesh’s appointment as the Youth Congress president was a unanimous decision, dismissing any rumors of internal party strife.
Meanwhile, the Congress leader initiated a ‘Viswasa Samrakshana Yatra’ (Faith Protection March) from Kanhangad on Tuesday. Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan officially inaugurated the march, which aims to draw attention to alleged irregularities and the government’s role in the Sabarimala gold theft case.
Muraleedharan called for the removal of both the Devaswom Minister and the Devaswom Board, accusing them of protecting the culprits. He declared that the yatra seeks to expose what he termed the ‘hypocritical facade’ of the Left government.
The march is led by T. Siddique, MLA, serving as deputy leader, with Rajmohan Unnithan, MP, and KPCC general secretaries P.M. Niyas and Soni Sebastian coordinating the efforts.
Three regional marches commenced on October 14, with a fourth scheduled to start from Muvattupuzha on October 15. All four yatras will converge in Chengannur on October 17, followed by a major United Democratic Front (UDF)-led rally from Karakkan to Pandalam on October 18.
The concluding conference will bring together senior Congress and UDF leaders, who will collectively pledge their commitment to safeguarding cherished temple traditions. The Congress party has consistently accused the Left government of attempting to undermine Sabarimala’s customs, exacerbated by the recent gold theft incident.