In a firm stance, the Kerala government reaffirmed on Saturday that no animal sacrifice occurred near a temple in the northern region of the state, contrary to the assertion made by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
Kerala’s Devaswom Minister, K Radhakrishnan, countered Shivakumar’s significant accusation regarding animal sacrifice near the Rajarajeshwara temple in Taliparamba, Kannur district. He emphasized that neither he, CM Siddaramaiah, nor the Congress government in Karnataka were associated with such claims.
“After a thorough investigation and consultation with the Malabar Devaswom Board, the initial report indicates no occurrence of such an event in or around the temple. This assertion has been further validated by the Devaswom Board,” Minister Radhakrishnan stated, expressing the need to delve into the motives behind Shivakumar’s allegations.
Additionally, Radhakrishnan disclosed ongoing government scrutiny to ascertain if similar incidents as alleged by the Karnataka Deputy CM have transpired elsewhere in Kerala. However, initial assessments indicate no such occurrence within the state, reinforced by the prohibition of animal sacrifices by law since 1968.
Dismissing Shivakumar’s claims, the temple’s managing committee denounced the allegations as entirely baseless. Furthermore, the Special Branch, in its report to the State Police Chief, affirmed the absence of evidence supporting animal sacrifices near any temple in Kerala, contradicting Shivakumar’s assertions.
Earlier, on Thursday, Shivakumar had implicated a ritual called “Shatru Bhairavi Yaga,” involving animal sacrifices, targeting himself, Siddaramaiah, and the Congress government in Karnataka. While not naming individuals, he insinuated the involvement of certain political figures in Karnataka orchestrating the ritual, with consultation from ‘aghoris’—a monastic order of ascetic Shaivite sadhus.