Kerala police says no animal sacrifice puja performed near Kannur temple
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Devaswom (Temple Affairs) minister K Radhakrishnan has rejected Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s allegation that a puja involving animal sacrifice was performed near a prominent temple in north Kerala to bring down his government.
Shivakumar on Thursday had alleged that "Shatru Bhairavi Yagya" was performed near Raja Rajeshwara Temple at Taliparamba in Kannur district against him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
According to him, 52 animals were sacrificed for the puja which was performed at the behest of a top Karnataka politician.
Kerala Devaswom (Temple Affairs) Minister, who rejected Shivakumar’s allegations, said; ``There is no possibility of such animal sacrifice pujas taking place in the temple. Such activities would never happen in Kerala,” he said.
In a press statement, the minister said the department would probe whether anything of this kind had happened
Meanwhile, Kannur special branch which conducted a probe into the entire matter has reportedly submitted a report to Kerala DGP stating that there is no evidence of the puja being performed in the area. The special branch team spoke to a cross-section of people including the temple committee office bearers and residents besides carrying out site inspection to gather evidence.
TTK (Taliparamaba, Thrihambaram , Kanjirangad Devaswom) which governs the temple, has also refuted the Karnataka deputy CM’s charge.
“Animal sacrifice is not carried out as part of any pooja here. No animal sacrifice puja has been performed on the temple premises. It is unfortunate and bad that the temple has been dragged into an unnecessary controversy,” said TTK Devasom Board member T T Madhavan.
The temple authorities, however, stated that hundreds of “Shatru Samhara pujas” are performed at the temple. “Many people from Karnataka come here on the Amavasya day. The main offering at these pujas is chicken. But pujas involving animal sacrifice are not performed here,” said an official.
Shivakumar's remarks came at the end of a press conference he addressed the other day, on the selection of candidates for the upcoming MLC elections in the state.
“Shatru Bhairavi (destruction of enemies) Yagya involves pancha balis (five sacrifices), sacrifice of 21 goats, three buffaloes, 21 black sheep and five pigs. Aghori babas are being approached for the puja which is currently on," Shivakumar alleged at the press conference.
He claimed that a top politician of Karnataka was behind the puja. “I know very well who did this. But I believe in God and will not take any of this,” he said.
Shivkumar’s allegations did not go down well with the ruling CPM in Kerala. “Shivkumar’s allegations are nothing but madness. He is mocking Kerala’s rich cultural, spiritual and religious traditions,” said Kerala CPM state secretary M V Govindan, at a press conference here on Friday.
