Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 17 (UNI) In a scathing attack on the ruling CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front government, Kerala unit BJP President PS Sreedharan Pillai on Saturday said a police raj is prevailing in Sabarimala.
Alleging that police raj was enforced at the insistance of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan holding the Home Portfolio, the BJP President said several leaders have been arrested without any reason.
Seeking an explanation from the Government over the midnight arrests last night made by the police, he said the police was intentionally creating problems for devotees coming from outside Kerala.
Announcing that the ongoing agitation will be extended to neighbouring states--- Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Mr Pillai said Lord Ayyappa shrine is a major centre of pilgrimage in South India and the involvement of devotees from that states is also important to protect the customs and traditions of centuries-old temple.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the recent incidents and the failure of the government to solve issues show that law and order situation was fast deteriorating in the State.
Alleging that BJP was politicising the religious sentiments, the Opposition leader asked Mr Pillai to persuade the Centre to find a solution to the recent issues following the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women between 10 and 50 years into the temple.
He also said the BJP President should meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seek his intervention to solve issues instead of politicising matters related to customs.
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