THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Travancore Devaswom plate (TDB) issued a directive to all temples under its control not to allow mass drills and other RSS-organized activities on temple premises.
While a restriction is already in place, the new directive comes on the heels of reports that RSS activities are still continuing at some temples across the state.
The devaswom council clarified that apart from temple festivals and rituals, the temple premises should not be used for any other purpose. Strict action will be taken against officers who fail to comply with the order, the council-issued circular said.
The LDF government had also spoken out against the RSS using the temple premises for their physical training with or without weapons. Prime Minister Pinrayi Vijayan himself had criticized the RSS for using the temple premises for their shakhas and physical training.
The devaswom council officials said that not only RSS, no organization or political party will be allowed to use the temple premises for any other purpose. Deputy Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Administrative Officers and sub-group officers of the council were asked to ban such activities and report them to Headquarters.
TDB had also issued a similar directive in March 2021. This was based on a complaint received from the council. However, some TDB officials were found to be supporting such activities in some temples under the council. There are 1,242 temples under TDB.
The move to ban RSS activities in temples had started in 2016 when the LDF government came to power. The then government had issued a circular using the relevant sections of the Kerala Police Act in the wake of complaints that the RSS was holding drills with or without weapons inside the temple premises. However, the directives referred to in the circular have not been strictly enforced.
While a restriction is already in place, the new directive comes on the heels of reports that RSS activities are still continuing at some temples across the state.
The devaswom council clarified that apart from temple festivals and rituals, the temple premises should not be used for any other purpose. Strict action will be taken against officers who fail to comply with the order, the council-issued circular said.
The LDF government had also spoken out against the RSS using the temple premises for their physical training with or without weapons. Prime Minister Pinrayi Vijayan himself had criticized the RSS for using the temple premises for their shakhas and physical training.
The devaswom council officials said that not only RSS, no organization or political party will be allowed to use the temple premises for any other purpose. Deputy Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Administrative Officers and sub-group officers of the council were asked to ban such activities and report them to Headquarters.
TDB had also issued a similar directive in March 2021. This was based on a complaint received from the council. However, some TDB officials were found to be supporting such activities in some temples under the council. There are 1,242 temples under TDB.
The move to ban RSS activities in temples had started in 2016 when the LDF government came to power. The then government had issued a circular using the relevant sections of the Kerala Police Act in the wake of complaints that the RSS was holding drills with or without weapons inside the temple premises. However, the directives referred to in the circular have not been strictly enforced.
