Pamba: One of the cars in the convoy of Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan was stopped by the Kerala Police at Pamba in the wee hours of Thursday, suspecting it to be a vehicle of the protesters.
The police said the car with the BJP workers arrived seven minutes after the minister's convoy had passed, raising suspicion. However, the party workers alleged that their car was stopped at multiple points by the police and they were harassed.
Though it was first said that the minister's car was stopped, the police later clarified only the last vehicle in the convoy was blocked. The police officers said they stopped the vehicle, suspecting that one of the protesters were in it. The people in the convoy then called the minister, who returned to the spot. The police officers then gave him a written explanation.
The incident happened near the KSRTC bus stand around 1 am. The minister's journey was delayed by 30 minutes. The minister was on his way back after conducting darshan at Sabarimala when the cops blocked his vehicles.
BJP's state media coordinator R Sandeep said the police 'harassed' them after "stopping their vehicle at various points" despite having prior information about those travelling with the minister. They were allowed to go only after the minister spoke to the officials, he said.
The police said another vehicle, which was part of the convoy, was stopped on suspicion that Sabarimala protesters were travelling in it. The cops were reportedly on the lookout for BJP Ranni constituency committee president Shine G Kurup.
The late-night incident came hours after the minister got into an altercation with Superintendent of Police Yathish Chandra at Nilakkal, the base camp of Sabarimala.
When the minister wanted to know why private vehicles of devotees were not being allowed to Pamba from Nilakkal, while Kerala state transport corporation buses were plying, the officer explained that post floods the facilities at Pamba were meagre.
The senior police officer explained to the Union minister about the features of Pamba, an environmental fragile area. He also said if the union minister gives him in writing to allow private vehicles to Pamba, he was prepared to allow all vehicles.
The Union minister, who offered prayers at the hill shrine Wednesday evening carrying his Irrumudikettu (holy bundle with offerings), was displeased with the manner in which the SP had behaved with him.
Later while talking to reporters, Radhakrishanan said, “He asked me whether I will take responsibility. Can the SP ask the same question to a state minister of Kerala? Will they allow him to ask this query?"
He also slammed the CPM-led LDF government on the Sabarimala issue, Radhakrishnan said its 'master plan' was to 'harass' the devotees and not allow them to go to the Ayyappa temple.
The minister declined to answer a question on the September 28 Supreme court verdict allowing women of all ages to offer worship at the shrine, saying "I do not want to go into that... My concern is with devotees. Do not harass the devotees."
The Sabarimala temple was opened on November 16 for the over two-month pilgrimage season amid tension.
