Calling for a court-monitored inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged irregularities at Sabarimala, Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal on Thursday (October 9, 2025) announced that the party would escalate its protest over the Sabarimala gold-plating controversy across South India.
“Let me warn this government. This protest will not be limited to Kerala. The Congress will take the lead in organising prayer protests of Ayyappa devotees across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana,” Mr. Venugopal declared while inaugurating a Vishwasa Sangamam (Faith Summit) held in Pathanamthitta.
Mr. Venugopal also pointed to the finance audit report of the Guruvayur Sreekrishna temple which he said revealed similar irregularities and called for a thorough investigation into the matter as well.
Earlier in the day, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan reiterated that former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran had full knowledge of the sale of the Dwarapalaka idols at Sabarimala. He stated he was ready to face any legal action over this claim.
“It was not me but the Kerala High Court that observed these idols could have been sold to someone for substantial monetary consideration. Being the Devaswom Minister at the time, he must have been aware of this fraud,” Mr. Satheesan told the media.
Accusing Unnikrishnan Potti of replacing the original Dwarapalaka idols with fake moulds, Mr. Satheesan pointed out that Mr. Surendran had not denied any links with Mr. Potti. “This is a clear case and it has no defence at all,” he said.
Mr. Satheesan also accused Assembly Speaker A.N. Shamseer of partisanship in suspending three Congress legislators for protesting over the Sabarimala scandal.
The Vishwasa Sangamam, organised by the Pathanamhitta District Congress Committee saw the participation of senior Congress leaders, including Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph, Ramesh Chennithala and P.J. Kurien, among others.
Published – October 09, 2025 07:47 pm IST
