TDB seeks explanation from tanthri over purification rituals
TNN | Jan 5, 2019, 06:33 IST
The CCTV visuals showed the Sri Lankan woman coming out of the sanctum sanctorum with a man after darshan at 10.46pmTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on Friday decided to seek explanation from Sabarimala tanthri Rajeevaru Kandararu for closing the temple for purification rituals after two women Kanakadurga and Bindu Ammini entered the shrine on Tuesday. This is the second time that the board is seeking explanation from the tanthri after the Supreme Court verdict allowing all women to visit the temple.
“The tanthri had called me and said he was going to close the temple and perform the purification ritual. He told me that this was the only remedial measure. But as per the TDB rules, the tanthri has to seek the board’s permission,” TDB president A Padmakumar said after a board meeting.
The tanthri has been asked to give his explanation in 15 days. The TDB commissioner had submitted a report on the developments at the board meeting, based on which the decision was taken.
“The closure of the temple and the purification rituals go against the Supreme Court verdict. Such decisions cannot be taken emotionally; they have to be taken as per the law,” Padmakumar said.
‘Tanthri given 15 days’ time’
He said the future course of action would be decided once the tanthri gave his explanation. “He has been given 15 days’ time to give the explanation as he needs to come down from Sabarimala after the Makaravilakku festival,” he said.
The TDB had earlier sought explanation from the tanthri over BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai’s claim that the former had contacted him before threatening to close the temple on October 19 last year, when activist Rehana Fathima and journalist Kavitha Jakkala tried to visit the temple.
The tanthri had denied the claim in his explanation. Padmakumar refused to comment on the Sri Lankan woman’s visit, saying the board had not received any official communication on it so far.
“The tanthri had called me and said he was going to close the temple and perform the purification ritual. He told me that this was the only remedial measure. But as per the TDB rules, the tanthri has to seek the board’s permission,” TDB president A Padmakumar said after a board meeting.
The tanthri has been asked to give his explanation in 15 days. The TDB commissioner had submitted a report on the developments at the board meeting, based on which the decision was taken.
“The closure of the temple and the purification rituals go against the Supreme Court verdict. Such decisions cannot be taken emotionally; they have to be taken as per the law,” Padmakumar said.
‘Tanthri given 15 days’ time’
He said the future course of action would be decided once the tanthri gave his explanation. “He has been given 15 days’ time to give the explanation as he needs to come down from Sabarimala after the Makaravilakku festival,” he said.
The TDB had earlier sought explanation from the tanthri over BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai’s claim that the former had contacted him before threatening to close the temple on October 19 last year, when activist Rehana Fathima and journalist Kavitha Jakkala tried to visit the temple.
The tanthri had denied the claim in his explanation. Padmakumar refused to comment on the Sri Lankan woman’s visit, saying the board had not received any official communication on it so far.
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