KC Venugopal slams Amit Shah over Delhi blast, criticises Kerala govt on Sabarimala gold case

Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP KC Venugopal has strongly criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the car blast near Delhi’s Errakote Metro Station that claimed eight lives. Describing it as a clear security failure, Venugopal said the public deserves to know the truth and asked who should be held accountable. “It is time for the Home Minister to take moral responsibility,” he asserted. He recalled that during the Mumbai attacks, then-Home Minister Shivraj Patil had resigned.

In the previous Parliament session, Amit Shah had assured that there would be no terrorist attacks in India in the future. Venugopal said, “We had already warned that national security should not be treated lightly. But now such a major attack has occurred in the capital. Who will take moral responsibility for this?” He also pointed out that opposition parties have once again demanded the Home Minister’s resignation.

Criticism on Sabarimala Gold Theft Case

Venugopal also sharply criticised the Kerala CPM government over the Sabarimala temple gold theft case. He accused the state government of focusing on temple assets, claiming that the CPM is continuing a process of taking control of temples. “The Devaswom Minister is sitting as if unaware of anything while knowing everything. By selling Ayyappa assets, they have hurt devotees’ sentiments. The CPM’s eyes are only on temple wealth,” Venugopal said.

Appointment of Party Leaders to Devaswom Boards

Venugopal questioned why devotees’ revered figures were removed from temple boards and replaced with party loyalists. He cited the removal of Priyar Gopalakrishnan from the Devaswom Board chairmanship and said the Chief Minister must explain these appointments. “These boards have been turned into platforms for corruption. Even after the Sabarimala gold theft, the CM remains seated in the Secretariat,” he added.

Latest Developments in the Gold Case

Police recently arrested former Travancore Devaswom Board chairman N. Vasu. He was interrogated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and named the third accused in the case. On November 7, former Treasury Commissioner K.S. Baiju was also arrested. The main accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, is already in SIT custody. In its second report submitted to the Kerala High Court, the SIT revealed serious irregularities in the Travancore Devaswom Board meeting records.

Background of the Case

In 1998, industrialist Vijay Mallya donated 30.3 kg of gold and 1,900 kg of ragi to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. The gold was used to coat the upper part of the sanctum and the wooden structures. Later, when the gold coating was removed for purification, significant discrepancies in the gold’s weight were discovered. Since then, the theft case has been a major topic of discussion.