Kochi: Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday accused the ruling CPI(M) of deliberately creating the hijab controversy to divert public attention from the ongoing probe into missing gold from the Sabarimala temple. Speaking to reporters in Tripunithura, Chandrasekhar alleged that the uproar over hijab use at St. Rita’s Public School in Palluruthy was “politically manufactured” by the CPI(M) to cover up the Sabarimala gold case involving the alleged disappearance of 4.5 kilograms of temple gold.

“This is a clear attempt to shift focus from the Sabarimala gold scandal. It will not succeed,” Chandrasekhar said, holding General Education Minister V. Sivankutty responsible for “fueling” the controversy. He demanded the resignation of State Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan and Travancore Devaswom Board Chairman, asserting that their failure to act transparently warranted immediate accountability.

His remarks came just hours after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested Unnikrishnan Potty, the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case. The BJP leader also criticised the alleged involvement of the SDPI and Jamaat-e-Islami in the hijab row, saying such organisations cannot dictate Kerala’s cultural or secular values. “The people of Kerala — Hindus, Christians, and Muslims — will decide that,” he asserted, calling on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take responsibility for what he described as a serious criminal lapse.