THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran has come forward harshly criticizing the hartal called by Hindu Aikya Vedi with the support of BJP against K P Sasikala's arrest.

"This proves that those who see Sabarimala women entry as a golden chance has to politicize the issue have no responibility towards the devotees. Innocent devotees are trapped in their campaign. They have now realized the situation", Kadakamapally told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

Minister also said that BJP is forcefully closing the shops and other organizations that provide devotees food and water. "When a party calls a hartal, they will usually avoid Pathanamthitta district. However, in this case BJP is disrupting people's lives. We clearly know the identity of those who are politicizing this issue. They are now observing this hartal in the name of Sasikala's arrest. Sasikala is someone who spreads communal poison all over the state. She visited Sabarimala to create a conflict. The police had informed earlier that no one can stay at Sannidhanam after 11 pm. Sasikala reached there attempting to violate this and she was arrested following this", clarified Kadakampally.