The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to make the Sabarimala gold theft case a key electoral issue in the upcoming Assembly polls, with party president Nitin Nabin asserting that the party would aggressively pursue the matter.
Nabin, who recently assumed charge as BJP president, is currently on a two-day visit to Kerala to review preparations and kick-start the party’s election campaign. He is scheduled to formally inaugurate the campaign in Thrissur later today.
“We will fight fully on the Sabarimala issue. We will bring justice,” Nabin told reporters after offering prayers at the Sri Adi Shankara Janmabhoomi Temple and visiting the Sri Sringeri Math in Kalady near Kochi.
He said the prayers were offered for the safety and development of the people of Kerala, adding that the BJP stands firmly with them. Nabin also alleged that both the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) were engaging in political manoeuvring over the Sabarimala issue.
Earlier on Friday, while addressing party workers, Nabin launched a sharp attack on the LDF and the UDF, accusing them of staging a “noora kushti” (mock fight) and enabling the accused in the Sabarimala gold loss case to obtain bail.
"I believe this happened with a joint understanding of the LDF and the UDF. BJP activists will take to the streets and ensure the accused in the Sabarimala case are punished," he said.
Nabin alleged that the UDF and the LDF were competing to outdo each other in being “anti-Sanatan,” claiming that the UDF has aligned itself with the Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working to revive ancient temples across the country, the Kerala government is attempting to “undermine places of worship", he said.
