Hindu Aikya Vedi stalls Malabar Devaswom’s takeover bid following HC order

Tension prevailed at Parthasarathy Temple, Guruvayur, on Thursday after Hindu Aikya Vedi workers prevented the police and officials of the Malabar Devaswom Board who came to officially take over the temple administration following a Kerala High Court order.

There has been a stand-off between the temple administration committee and the Malabar Devaswom Board for some time over the administration of the temple. The High Court had asked the Devaswom board to take over the temple. Though the temple administration committee moved the High Court against the order, the final court verdict was in favour of the Devaswom board.

Devotees, including women and children led by the Hindu Aikya Vedi, stopped the Devaswom officials when they reached the temple in the morning to take over the administration. Anticipating a tense situation, a 200-strong contingent of the police was camping at the site.

The devotees inside the temple blocked the Devaswom officials from entering the temple leading to a melee. Two policemen were injured in the commotion. Following that, devotees closed the temple doors. They refused to go from the temple. As the situation became tense, more police personnel led by Commissioner Rahul R. Nair reached the place.

The temple door was opened by 5 p.m. following discussions held by the police with the Hindu Aikya Vedi workers and VHP leaders. However, the process of taking over the temple could not be completed following the protest.

Police assurance

Later, the officials left the place after the police assured them that action would be taken against those who prevented them from implementing the court order.

BJP State president Kummanam Rajasekharan has urged the government to give up the move to take over Guruvayur Parthasarathy Temple. He said the bid was planned with an eye on the assets of the temple.

The government was challenging the Hindus by attempting to take over temples citing silly reasons. If the government refused to give up such attempts, it would have to face serious consequences, he said.