‘Should thank govt for not stealing Ayyappa idol, would have done that if a little more time was obtained'  

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V D Satheesan responded to the gold-plated controversy in Sabarimala. He said mysterious things are happening and the government and the devaswom board should answer. He asked how much is left from the gold given by Vijay Mallya.

The government or the devaswom board have no answer to the question ‘who is Unnikrishnan Potty’. The opposition leader demanded the resignation of Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan and Travancore Devaswom Board President P S Prashanth.

'A CBI investigation should be conducted against the present devaswom minister, former devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran and the present and previous presidents of the board, because this was taken out of the state. It is not within the jurisdiction of the police here. No one trusts the police here. If there is no CBI investigation, the UDF will stage strong protests.

There is proof in the devaswom board inspection that there is a loss in the weight of gold. Hiding it turned worse. Where did the gold go? Those who hold important posts in the board have got a share of it. A joint business has happened here. Why hid it? Why no investigation was conducted? Why people who committed the same theft was invited? All these three questions need answers. I have to thank the government for not stealing the Ayyappa idol. If a little more time was obtained would have done that too,' said V D Satheesan.