Pinarayi and Stalin won't be allowed to misuse Ayyappa devotion, warns BJP

Thiruvananthapuram: BJP has warned Kerala and Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers, Pinarayi Vijayan and M K Stalin, against attending the global Ayyappa conclave to be held in Kerala on September 20 without apologising to Hindus.

BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said in a statement that unless Vijayan and Stalin tender apology to Hindus before attending the Ayyappa conclave, BJP workers would go to the streets to oppose their participation at the global Ayyappa conclave.

"Pinarayi, Stalin and his son and Tamil Nadu minister Udayanidhi Stalin had hurt Hindu sentiments. They were trying to sabotage Hindu beliefs. Pinarayi's government jailed many Ayyappa devotees and unleashed brutal police attacks against devotees who tried to protect beliefs regarding restriction on women's entry to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple. They made all possible efforts to sabotage beliefs over the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple. Hindu believers won't forget those. Hence, without apologising to Hindus and Sabarimala Ayyappa devotees they can't attend the Ayyappa conclave," Chandrasekhar said.

He also said that the CPM government was trying to fool the people by organising the Ayyappa conclave as the elections were approaching.

The global Ayyappa conclave will be held on September 20 as part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Travancore Devaswom Board that manages the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple. Representatives from south Indian states, centre and from various countries are expected to attend the event to be held on the banks of the holy Pamba river.