RSS turning temples into storehouses of arms: Kerala minister

In a Facebook post, Kerala’s Temple Affairs Minister Kadakampally Surendran alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was trying to keep devotees away from shrines.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala minister Kadakampally Surendran on Monday stoked a controversy by alleging that the Sangh Parivar outfit (RSS) was trying to turn temples into "storehouses of arms" in the state.

In a Facebook post, Kerala’s Temple Affairs Minister Kadakampally Surendran wrote: “The government has got several complaints about the illegal operation of RSS shakhas at temples. The government will take strong action against the conduct of (such) shakhas.’’

The minister also alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was trying to keep devotees away from the shrines by turning them into "storehouses of arms" and indulging in "arms training".

Stating that temples are the centres of rituals and beliefs, Surendran said the government would not allow anybody to turn places of worship into centres of anti-social activities.

"The government will intervene strongly to end this," he added.

The BJP rubbished the allegations and criticised the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s “anti-Hindu” stance.

On Sunday evening, Kerala's Public Works Minister G Sudhakaran had stirred up a row by saying that lighting of lamps and singing of religious hymns at government programmes and functions at schools should be avoided.

Health Minister KK Shylaja, another senior member in the Pinarayi Vijayan government, had also courted controversy recently by voicing displeasure against the recitation of Sanskrit hymns during a yoga demonstration, organised in connection with the International Yoga Day on June 21.

Reacting to the “objections”, BJP state general secretary MT Ramesh was quoted by The Indian Express as saying that the “anti-Hindu face” of the CPI(M)-led government has been exposed.

“The CPM should refrain from opposing Indian culture,” Ramesh said.