Sabarimala Protest: Youth Congress Clashes With Police in Pathanamthitta

Chaos erupted in Pathanamthitta as Youth Congress activists, led by firebrand leader Sandeep Varier, stormed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) office on Tuesday, protesting alleged irregularities in the gold-clad copper plates adorning the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols at the revered Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa shrine. The demonstration turned violent, with protestors clashing with police, breaching barricades, and pelting stones, shattering the office’s window panes in a dramatic escalation.

The confrontation saw Varier and other Youth Congress leaders caught in a heated scuffle with law enforcement. Varier accused the police of targeting and assaulting protestors with batons, vowing to continue the agitation despite the crackdown. “We will not back down until justice is served,” he declared defiantly, as protestors surrounded a police jeep, preventing authorities from dispersing the crowd. The activists raised slogans against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and demanded the immediate resignation of Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan, accusing the government of mismanagement and negligence in handling the sacred shrine’s affairs.

The controversy stems from a shocking revelation about the gold-clad copper plates used for the Dwarapalaka idols. On Monday, the Kerala High Court ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe discrepancies after it was discovered that the claddings, sent for gold-plating in 2019, had mysteriously lost approximately 4.5 kg in weight—a fact concealed by Devaswom officials. The issue surfaced during court proceedings questioning the decision to send the claddings for re-plating this year without prior court approval, raising suspicions of misconduct.

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Adding fuel to the fire, the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) disrupted Kerala Assembly proceedings for the second consecutive day, amplifying their demand for Vasavan’s resignation over the alleged mismanagement. The UDF has accused the ruling government of failing to safeguard the temple’s sanctity and assets, further intensifying the political storm surrounding the issue.

Last week, the Kerala High Court took decisive action, mandating a comprehensive inventory of all valuables, including gold ornaments, at the Sabarimala temple. The process is to be overseen by retired Justice K T Sankaran to ensure transparency and accountability. The court’s intervention has spotlighted concerns about the management of one of Kerala’s most sacred pilgrimage sites, drawing widespread public and political scrutiny.

As tensions simmer, the Sabarimala gold plating row has ignited debates over governance, transparency, and the sanctity of religious institutions. With the Youth Congress vowing to escalate their protests and the opposition tightening its grip on the issue, the controversy is far from over, leaving devotees and citizens awaiting answers in this unfolding saga.

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