Sabarimala/Thiruvananthapuram: CPM Central Committee member K.K. Shailaja has waded into the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged irregularities in the gold plating work at Sabarimala. Shailaja claimed that those behind the allegations regarding the Sabarimala gold layers are driven by “intolerance” over the successful conclusion of the ‘Ayyappa Sangamam’ event.
Addressing the issue in Ottapalam, K.K. Shailaja stated that if any gold is indeed missing, the state government would investigate and find it. She further added that once the Vigilance investigation is complete, those currently raising the allegations will be proven guilty.
Meanwhile, the Kerala Opposition is set to once again raise the Sabarimala issue in the Niyamasabha (Assembly) today. The Opposition plans to aggressively question the government about the missing gold layers at the Sannidhanam. UDF leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan is expected to move an emergency motion notice (Adiyanthara Prameya Notice). The Opposition intends to use reports about the gold plating, including those brought out by Manorama News, to fuel the discussion on the floor of the House.
The Opposition is likely to allege that the government is trying to deceive Ayyappa devotees and that the recent ‘Ayyappa Sangamam’ was conducted merely to divert attention from the irregularities that took place at Sabarimala. The ruling front had previously refused to even consider a notice on the same subject.
The chances of the notice being admitted today also appear slim, as the government is expected to stand by its position that the matter is sub judice (under court consideration).
The Assembly’s schedule for the day includes the tabling of six bills, including the Digital University Amendment Bill and the Malayalam Language Bill.
