UDF convener Benny Behannan has alleged that efforts by two women to enter the Sabarimala temple were part of a planned move by the State government and the police.
Addressing the media here on Friday, he said the police had registered a case against Liby who had earlier attempted to enter the temple “for inflaming communal passions”.
He demanded that S. Sreejth, Inspector General of Police, who escorted the two women, be slapped with the same charge. Mr. Behannan claimed that the women had worn jacket and helmets given by the police. “The police had violated the provisions of the Kerala Police Act by giving them [women] police jacket and helmets. The duo had approached the authorities on Thursday evening with a request to allow them to enter Sabarimala. Therefore, it was very clear that their visit was a planned one,” he said.
Mr. Behannan alleged that the CPI(M) and the BJP wanted to trigger tension at Sabarimala.
The UDF convenor asked why the government was unwilling to accede to demands for an all-party meeting on the issue. “The Chief Minister who has gone abroad should return and resign. The protests organised by the BJP did not have the support of devotees,” he added.
