Where’s The Money Going? Devaswom Minister Says Kerala Government Not Taking Single Penny From Temples Revenues

The Devaswom Minister of Kerala’s communist government, Kakampally Surendran, on Wednesday (31 October), has said that the state government is not taking any money from the donations made to the Sabarimala temple but granting huge funds for the administration of temples, The New Indian Express has reported.

Surendran alleged that a widespread campaign against donating money to the Lord Ayappa temple at Sabarimala that is run by Devaswom board, is being run in Kerala and other states.

The minister was speaking at a meeting of officials from south Indian states.

"I use this opportunity to state clearly that the government of Kerala is not taking a single penny from the revenue of the temples," said the minister.`

"On the other hand, the Kerala government is granting huge funds for the administration of temples every year," said the Minister.

Regarding the implementation of the Supreme court order allowing women of all ages to worship at the Sabarimala temple, the minister said that the state government had a constitutional obligation to implement the order of the apex court.

In the wake of Sabarimala protests, the state government had carried out state wide arrests of more than two thousand people putting bail money as high as Rs 13 lakh. The brutish police conduct had earned a warning from Kerala High Court, which chided the Communist government for not taking action against guilty police persons.

Also Read: The Communist Price For Devotion To Ayyappa: Rs 13 Lakh In Bail Charges, 2,061 Arrests And 452 Cases

Kerala HC Slams Police Excesses Against Sabarimala Devotees, Demands Rogue Officers’ Identification Via Videos