Thiruvananthapuram: Differences of opinion have emerged within the Congress with V.T. Balram, MLA, welcoming Mr Rahul Easwar’s arrest and Congress working president K Sudhakaran opposing it.

Mr Sudhakaran told reporters that such huge number of arrests has never been made earlier even during emergency period. The government should stop the brutal action against the devotees, he said.





The government has no justification on Rahul Easwar’s arrest. He was being targetted and the police action against him was not right. The government cannot suppress the protest as the number of protesters is increasing day by day.

The police has been arresting everyone after examining the video footage. All people have the right to criticise the court verdict. Government is trying to curb freedom of expression, Mr Sudhakaran added. Mr Sudhakaran asked the government to clarify the logic behind arresting the people who staged a peaceful protest.

Mr Balram countered it by saying that real Congressmen and devotees do not have the opinion that such people should not be arrested. Their demand was that all such elements should be arrested. Congress was with devotees and not rioters, said Balaram

RSS goons had been trying to create riots by shedding blood and urine in holy Sannidhanam. It was the duty of the state administration to book these criminals, said Mr Balaram.

Thazhamon Tantris say Rahul not part of family

Amid the controversies, the Thazhamon Tantri family on Sunday clarified that Rahul Easwar is not part of the family and none of his statements were the opinion of the Thazhamon family.

“The opinions and approaches of Rahul Easwar on the Sabarimala issue is not the stand of Thazhamon family and we do not agree with those statements. He also has no hereditary rights in the family and also in the rituals of the Sabarimala temple,” the statement reads.

The statement also said the family has no issues with the Devaswom board as well as the state government. “We have been in good harmony with the Devaswom Board till now and it would be the same in future. The speech by the Chief Minister in Pathanamthitta was painful, but we hope he delivered it with a misconception,” it said. At the same time, we (tantric) will not stay away from protecting the rights and beliefs of the temple, the statement said.