Former Supreme Court judge Indu Malhotra says that communist governments in Kerala have been taking over the Hindu temples with an eye on their enormous income. They bring the Hindu temples under their control. They tried the same game in Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. Justice Malhota said, herself and Justice U.U. Lalith killed that plot.
Justice Indu Malhotra says, communists want to lay their hands on the temples because offer boxes attract their attention. Justice Malhotra’s video of talking to the people around her in front of Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple is now viral in social media.
Justice Malhotra referred to the judgement pronounced by herself and Justice Lalit in July 2020 which declared that the Thiruvithamkoor royal family had the right to look after and interfere in the routine affairs of the temple. The court was admitting the appeal filed by the Maharaja of Thiruvithamkoor challenging the Kerala High Court judgment giving those rights to Kerala Government.
It is noteworthy, Supreme Court judgement made it clear that the rights of the royal family to look after the temple and interfere in the routine affairs of the temple did not cease to exist by the death of Sree Chithirathirunal Balarama Varma who signed the instrument of accession merging Thiruvithamkoor kingdom with Bharath. Court had also formed a five-member council for running the temple and looking after its administration. It consists of the Thiruvananthapuram district judge, nominee of the Thiruvithamkoor royal family, a member nominated by the Central Cultural Ministry, a nominee of the Government of Kerala and Chief Thanthri of the temple. This council runs the temple now.
Kerala has been witnessing the takeover attempts against temples by communist governments since a long time. Malabar Dewaswom Board, controlled by CPM-led ruling Left Democratic Front, took over Guruvayoor Parthasarathy temple in 2017 amid stiff opposition from Hindu Aikya Vedi and other RSS inspired Hindu organisations. Their initial attempt was foiled, thanks to the powerful resistance of the Hindu bodies. Then they took over the temple by break-opening the lock. It was a midnight operation. BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan (later on Missoram Governor) had denounced the action. He said, the midnight ‘invasion’ was an assault to right to worship and also the spirits of country’s Constitution.
The 2018 attempt of the CPM regime to desecrate the centuries long rituals, systems, discipline and practices in Sabarimala temple by the entry of young women below 50 with police escort, challenging the resistance of the devotees, is infamous in the history of the state of Kerala. Even though CPM Congress resolutions prevent party members from practising religion in personal life, Party gives secret instructions to the cadres to infiltrate into temple committees. Now, Justice Indu Malhotra’s words vindicate the longstanding stance of the Sangh-inspired organisations that communists have been trying to take over the temples to grab the monies in the offer box and ultimately finish off the temple and temple culture of Kerala.
