Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly, V. D. Satheesan, criticized the Kerala government, alleging that the Global Ayyappa Meet held at Pampa last year was linked to the Sabarimala gold heist. Satheesan demanded a thorough investigation into what he described as a multi-crore fraud.
Satheesan highlighted irregularities in the event near Sabarimala despite High Court directives for transparent accounting. He criticized the Devaswom Minister for distancing himself from the scandal and raised concerns about misappropriation of funds meant for food and accommodation.
The Opposition leader questioned inflated bills and the lack of transparency in financial dealings related to the Ayyappa Meet. He emphasized the government’s accountability as the Devaswom Board operates under its authority, urging a detailed examination of the discrepancies in financial reports.
Satheesan also criticized the political branding of the event, pointing out the prominence given to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over Lord Ayyappa in promotional materials. He demanded accountability for every rupee collected in the name of Ayyappa and called for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged fraud.
