The Centre has no role in the Sabarimala issue and it is for the Kerala Government to act, Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping Pon. Radhakrishnan said in Coimbatore on Saturday. Addressing reporters at the Coimbatore Railway Junction, he said the verdict had no doubt caused disappointment and shock among Lord Ayyappa devotees, whose wishes were for the continuance of age-old traditions.
“The people are for preservation of the tradition. I'm given to understand that the Travancore Devaswom Board has planned to file a revision petition. It is for the Board and Kerala Government to act on the issue and they should. The Centre has very little role.”
Politics in Tamil Nadu was centred around the Bharatiya Janata Party and all political parties had realised this, Mr. Radhakrishnan said and added that the BJP was now the political focal point. There was no necessity for the party to act from behind the scenes or direct any other party to speak on its behalf. “Though it has become customary for the DMK to accuse the BJP of being the reason for AIADMK's political moves and the AIADMK to accuse the party of being the reason for DMK's political moves, the truth is different. The BJP is on its own.”
In response to a question on allegations against the Central Government in the Rafale aircraft deal , he said the Opposition parties levelled the allegations keeping in mind the 2019 Parliamentary election. They were making much noise about nothing as Union Ministers had countered all allegations in this regard.
