No rift with BJP leadership on Thazhamon issue, says K S Radhakrishnan

Kochi, Jul 13 (PTI) Senior BJP leader K S Radhakrishnan on Monday asserted that there was no rift between him and the party's state leadership over his demand to end the hereditary claim of the Thazhamon family to the post of Tantri (chief priest) of the Sabarimala temple, saying the party's stand was to protect the sanctity of temple traditions. Responding to questions from media on whether his remarks had put him at odds with the state leadership, Radhakrishnan said the BJP had a clear and consistent policy on safeguarding the ritual purity and customs of all temples. "The BJP does not have a stand limited to any one temple. The party's policy is to protect the sanctity of traditions in all temples. Since the BJP has a strong and clear policy on temple affairs, there is no need to discuss such issues within the party every now and then," he said. Asked about BJP leaders visiting Sabarimala Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru after he was released on bail in the Sabarimala gold loss case, Radhakrishnan said such visits were made out of personal relationships. "There may be personal relationships. Anyone may visit a person on that basis," he said. Reiterating his demand to end the hereditary practice, Radhakrishnan alleged that the present Tantri, Kandararu Rajeevaru, was an accused in two cases related to the Sabarimala gold loss incident. He said the post of Tantri should not automatically pass from father to son and that only those who were qualified and competent should be appointed. "The courts have observed that the sons of Tantris should be legitimately competent to hold the post. Tantric knowledge has to be systematically acquired. This is not family property to be inherited merely because the father held the post," he said. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has the authority to take such decisions, he added. On Sunday, Radhakrishnan had demanded that the Thazhamon family be removed from the hereditary post of Tantri, alleging that it had brought "disrepute" to the shrine and millions of Ayyappa devotees. His remarks came amid media reports that Sabarimala Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru had written to the Travancore Devaswom Board seeking the appointment of his son, Brahmadattan, as the next Tantri from the Malayalam month of Chingam. In a Facebook post, the BJP state vice-president had said the Devaswom Board was under no obligation to appoint a person recommended by those facing criminal proceedings merely on the basis of hereditary succession. There was no immediate response from the Thazhamon family, the Travancore Devaswom Board or the BJP's state leadership to Radhakrishnan's remarks. PTI LGK ROH