CPI(M) targets Congress over Sabarimala gold theft row in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: With the special investigation team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple gold heist case, the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala seems to be trying to put Congress leaders who were earlier involved in the temple's administration too under a cloud of suspicion.

CPI(M) leader and Kerala excise minister M B Rajesh on Thursday said that the key accused in the gold heist Unnikrishnan Potti joined as an assistant to the priests of the Ayyappa temple while AICC general secretary K C Venugopal was serving as the State Devaswom Minister (2004-06).

Travancore Devaswom Board's former governing body with Congress leader Prayar Gopalakrishnan as president and Congress leader Ajay Tharayil as one of the members may also come under probe in connection with the renovation of the gold plated flag post of the temple in 2017 and handing over the 'Vaji Vahan' (deity's vehicle) of the old flag post to temple 'tantri' Kandararu Rajeevaru who was already arrested in the case.

CPI(M) camps earlier stepped up attack against the Congress over a photograph of the key accused Potti and another accused Ballari-based jewellery shop owner Govardharnan with AICC top leader Sonia Gandhi along with Congress MPs Adoor Prakash and Anto Antony.

M B Rajesh said that the Congress was now becoming silent over the Sabarimala issue as the links of Potti with Congress leaders were being exposed.

The Congress has already decided to make the Sabarimala gold heist a key issue in the coming assembly polls. Already three persons associated with the CPI(M), including former MLA and former TDB president A Padmakumar, were arrested by the SIT. The Congress is cornering the CPI(M) for not taking any action against the CPI(M) members held.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby who launched the party's door to door campaign in Kerala on Thursday, said that the parody song 'Pottiye Kettiye' linking CPM with the gold heist had caused some sorts of confusion among the people that all communists were involved in the gold heist.