Since the Supreme Court verdict on entry of women into the Sabarimala temple, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has witnessed angry protestors and Ayyappa devotees raising slogans, in an attempt to disrupt his speeches and public meetings across Kerala. However, for the first time on Tuesday, the Chief Minister was interrupted not by protestors, but by a stray loudspeaker which blared Ayyappa prayers while he was speaking at an election meet in Kattakkada, Thiruvananthapuram.
The Chief Minister who was in Kattakkada to campaign for Attingal CPI(M) candidate A Sampath was interrupted by the loudspeaker minutes after he began his speech. Tied to a post, the loudspeaker, belonged to the next door Kattala Devi temple which had a festival organised on the same day. In the visuals which have since been shared on social media, a visibly irked Chief Minister is seen breaking off his speech mid-way and asking CPI(M) workers “What is this event happening here?” Those present on the dais included Kattakkada MLA IB Sathish, District Secretary VN Sivankutty, district panchayat president VK Madhu, CPI(M) district secretary Anavoor Nagappan and others.
Quick to react to the Chief Minister’s annoyance, the leaders stood up and left the dais to fix the situation. While some party workers spoke to police officers stationed at the event, others unplugged the loudspeaker’s wire. Although it is yet to be ascertained whether the incident was a deliberate interruption or an embarrassing coincidence, the party workers have reportedly alleged that the temple authorities recorded the prayers and played it during the CM’s speech on purpose. A journalist who was present at the occasion told TNM that the temple started playing the music only when the CM's speech started.
Meanwhile, the temple authorities have reportedly expressed their disappointment with the party workers for unplugging the loudspeaker. When asked whether the CPI(M) had permission to use the microphone that day, Kattakada CI Sunil Kumar told TNM, “The CPI(M) had submitted an application on April 12 to use the microphone for the event. However, the permission letter had not been issued by the respective government authorities. Usually, if the Chief Minister is speaking at an event, it is the responsibility of the authorities to issue the permit once they receive the application,” The temple, however, had secured a permit to use loudspeakers for the festival which was held on Tuesday.
Right wing groups and Ayyappa devotees opposing the ruling CPI(M)'s pro-women’s entry stance in the Sabarimala issue have often held 'Namajapa' protests against the government and the Chief Minister in the recent past. It includes groups of people chanting 'Namajapa' prayers in protest. Video here.