Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kozhikode regional president K. Shreekanth has criticised the Malabar Devaswom Board chairman for issuing a show-cause notice to an employee who had filed a petition in the Kerala High Court challenging the board’s proposal to spend funds to attend Global Ayyappa Sangamam.
Kinavoor Edam Sree Kiratheswara temple clerk A.V. Ramachandran Nair had approached the court against the Malabar Devaswom Board’s order after he was alleged of defaming the temple by publishing fake news and filing a case without the knowledge of the temple committee, following which the show cause notice was served to him seeking explanation.
Mr. Shreekanth described the action of the board chairman in issuing the show cause notice to its employee as “undemocratic”.
‘Attempt to silence dissent’
“Employees of Malabar Devaswom Board are not slaves. Devotees as well as employees, have the right to question decisions taken with political interests,” Mr. Shreekanth said, calling the action an attempt to silence dissent through disciplinary measures.
In his charge to the board chairman A. Madhu, who issued the notice, Mr. Shreekanth said he himself had earlier protested over unpaid dues but was now denying similar rights to subordinates.
Mr. Shreekanth also warned that if temple funds were misused to attend the Ayyppa Sangamam in violation of the High Court order, the BJP would back the devotees’ protest.
He hit out that the board was functioning to please political masters while neglecting basic employee benefits.
He urged the government and the board to act immediately to address the grievances of its employees.
Published – September 26, 2025 05:30 pm IST
