BJP accuses Kerala government of detaining Sabrimala devotees

New Delhi, Jan 6 (IANS) Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Kerala government accusing it of detaining Sabarimala temple devotees for raising voice against it, and condemned the bomb attack on the ancestral home of former BJP state President and Rajya Sabha MP V. Muraleedharan.

Kerala witnessed fresh violence over the Sabarimala issue after two women of menstruating age entered the Lord Ayyappa shrine to offer their prayers earlier this week.

Speaking on the violence followed by detentions and arrests of the devotees who are protesting against the entry of female devotees of menstruating age, Irani said the social, political and law and order situation in the state has deteriorated.

"Currently, Kerala's anarchy is such that over 37,000 citizens stand accused of going up against the government of Kerala. It is noted that close to 3,170 citizens are in custody and 1,286 cases have been registered. Be it a citizen or an MP, none is safe in Kerala.

"The former BJP President in Kerala and MP from Rajya Sabha Muraleedharan ji's ancestral home was attacked by a countrymade bomb on Friday night. On behalf of the BJP, we condemn this dastardly attack," Irani said.

Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore also called the Kerala situation "very alarming".

"The law and order situation in Kerala is very alarming. when the Chief Minister gives a one-sided statement, it flares up the situation," Rathore said.

Violence involving BJP-RSS and ruling CPI(M) workers rocked parts of Kerala, particularly Kannur, on Saturday with a number of houses and shops of rival leaders and workers being attacked following the Sabarimala row.