Union Home Minister Amit Shah has called for a neutral investigation into the high-profile gold heist at the Sabarimala temple, warning of state-wide protests by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) if this demand is not met. He launched a sharp political offensive against Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), positioning the BJP as the sole alternative for the state's development and security.
Allegations of Sabarimala Heist Cover-Up
Addressing party workers at an event in Thiruvananthapuram to felicitate winners of local body polls, Shah claimed to have studied the First Information Report (FIR) filed in the Sabarimala theft case. He alleged that the document was "designed to protect the real culprits." Questioning the possibility of a fair probe, Shah pointed fingers at the involvement of state ministers. "How can justice be ensured and a neutral investigation be carried out when ministers are involved?" he asked.
Linking the issue to broader governance failures, Shah asserted it was time for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to step down. He accused the LDF government of failing to safeguard the sacred shrine and of stalling Kerala's progress.
BJP's Kerala Election Blueprint: Development & Security
Setting the tone for the upcoming assembly elections, Shah exuded confidence that the BJP will assume power in Kerala this year. He outlined a three-pronged agenda for the party: developing the state, protecting it from "anti-national" forces, and safeguarding the centuries-old devotion of its people.
Shah dismissed both the LDF and UDF as incapable of delivering on these fronts, accusing them of a political "match-fixing" that has led to stagnation. "The Communist Parties are dead all over the world and the Congress is dying in India," he claimed, arguing that Kerala's progress is tied to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for a developed India by 2047.
He expressed strong faith in BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar's ability to end the "musical chair" between the two traditional fronts. Citing the party's growth, Shah noted that its vote share in Kerala rose from 16% in 2019 to 20% in 2024. "The road to a 30-40% vote share is not far away and will be achieved in the 2026 elections," he predicted, drawing parallels with the party's historical growth in states like Assam, Manipur, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh.
Security, Appeasement, and the Road Ahead
On national security and social issues, Shah posed a direct challenge to the LDF and UDF. He questioned their ability to keep Kerala safe from organizations like the Popular Front of India (PFI), Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), and Jamaat-e-Islami, alleging these groups are their vote banks. "Only BJP can save Kerala from the divisive agenda of SDPI, PFI and Jamaat," he stated.
He also brought up the contentious issues of triple talaq and the Waqf land controversy in Ernakulam. Shah highlighted that the BJP government at the Centre abolished triple talaq, a move opposed by the LDF and UDF. On the Waqf issue, he accused the LDF government of practicing appeasement politics by not acting when land belonging to Hindus came under Waqf, contrasting it with the BJP's slogan of "justice for all, appeasement for none."
Concluding with a bold vision, Shah recalled the party's journey from winning the Ahmedabad municipal corporation to ruling the nation. "Today we have a mayor in Thiruvananthapuram and tomorrow we will see a chief minister," he proclaimed, signaling the BJP's determined push for power in Kerala.
