'Govt can't intervene or dictate Devaswom Board's functioning'; Former Min Kadakampally Surendran responds

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said that the functioning of the Devaswom Board is independent, and the government need not crane their neck in board decisions. Kadakampally added that all five Devaswom Boards in the state are functioning independently. The former minister was reacting to the arrest of former Travancore Devaswom Board President A. Padmakumar.

“The party's state secretary has made his stand clear on this matter. There is no need to send a file to the ministerial level for the functioning of the Devaswom Board. No file related to the Devaswom Board has come during my tenure. The decisions of the Devaswom Board are solely the board's, and the Devaswom Minister has no authority to intrude.

The opposition is raising many grievances. A flawless investigation is underway. The opposition leader has not yet responded to the defamation case I sent, but selectively responds to the Sabarimala issue. The investigation is going in the right direction. There is no need to holler all matters to the media,” said Kadakampally.