TDB open to talks, says president

‘Board not keen on playing politics’

The Travancore Devaswom Board is open to talks with anyone to end the current impasse and restore peace in Sabarimala, president A. Padmakumar has said.

Mr. Padmakumar told reporters here on Wednesday that the board was not stubborn and was willing to engage with anyone to end the crisis. The government too had a similar stance, he said.

Sabarimala should not become a centre of strife and political leaders should not use the temple for political gains. The board is not keen on playing politics on the issue, he said.

Referring to Union Minister of State K.J. Alphons’s statement regarding the funds expended in Sabarimala, Mr. Padmakumar said the claims were unfounded. The Minister either did not knew the facts or was feigning ignorance, he said.

The campaign against the faithful making contributions to temples under the board would affect the functioning of 1,258 temples and also the families of 12,000 employees and pensioners of the board, he said.

Curbs eased

In the wake of talks the board members had with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and State Police Chief Loknath Behera, the police have eased the restrictions imposed in the temple premises. Those with coupons for ghee offering (Neyyabhishekam) could sleep on the premises, he said.