Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader B. Gopalakrishnan warned on Wednesday that the party will launch a protest if the Cochin Devaswom Board continues its efforts to take control of the Thrissur Pooram.
He accused the Cochin Devaswom Board president of acting like Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor, and added that the Pooram disturbances were orchestrated by the Cochin Devaswom Board president in collaboration with the Left Democratic Front.
The BJP leader’s reaction came after a report submitted by the Cochin Devaswom Board to the Kerala High Court in connection with the Pooram disruption that occurred this year. The report had accused both the BJP and the Thiruvambadi Devaswom of colluding to disrupt the Pooram. The report specifically said that the Thiruvambadi Devaswom deliberately delayed the fireworks for over four hours.
BJP district president K.K. Anish Kumar said the affidavit filed by the Cochin Devaswom Board in the High Court is part of a long-standing attempt by the Left government and the board to sabotage the Thrissur Pooram. He accused the Cochin Devaswom Board of humiliating the Thiruvambady Devaswom, which has played a significant role in organising the Pooram, a centuries-old celebration cherished by Malayalis.
Mr. Anish Kumar pointed out that when police officers obstructed the Pooram, millions of people had witnessed it. At that time, the Cochin Devaswom Board and the government remained passive, and now they are telling lies in the court. He called this an insult to the judicial system.
He demanded clarity from the board about any evidence they have to prove that the BJP and the Thiruvambady Devaswom were responsible for obstructing the Pooram. He also called for the Cochin Devaswom Board to withdraw the false affidavit and apologise for the misleading claims.
Published - November 20, 2024 08:14 pm IST
