Vasavan stands firm on ₹3 crore claim, dares Opposition to prove him wrong

Holding that Congress leaders would yet person to apologise to the nationalist for raising what helium described arsenic mendacious allegations regarding the Global Ayyappa Sangamam, Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan connected Saturday reiterated that his connection successful the Assembly astir the repayment of ₹3 crore was based connected authoritative records.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Vasavan said the discomfort among Congress leaders, including K.C. Venugopal, stemmed from the exclusion of Unnikrishnan Potti from the Global Ayyappa Sangamam. He pointed retired that Mr. Potti had primitively travel to Sabarimala during Mr. Venugopal’s tenure arsenic Devaswom Minister.

“The unease of Congress leaders is understandable. As the probe reaches wherever it is meant to, that discomfort volition lone grow. Let the probe proceed properly. Congress leaders who are making misleading statements astir what I said successful the Assembly volition soon person to apologise,” helium said.

Reiterating that his Assembly connection was made strictly connected the ground of documentary evidence, Mr. Vasavan said helium would beryllium consenting to judge the consequences if his claims were proven incorrect. The authorities does not interfere successful immoderate acquisition oregon merchantability transactions of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). Since the TDB cannot straight marque statements successful the Assembly, the matters are conveyed done the Minister, helium explained.

He further alleged that conscionable erstwhile the Ayyappa conscionable was being conducted successfully, Mr. Potti’s revelation astir a missing golden sheet surfaced astatine the past moment. The precise adjacent day, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan submitted a announcement for an adjournment question successful the Assembly. As the substance was nether judicial consideration, the Speaker denied permission. Subsequently, during a Vigilance probe, the missing golden sheet was recovered from the residence of Mr. Potti’s sister, helium said.

Mr. Vasavan besides claimed that a conspiracy to sabotage the Ayyappa conscionable by utilizing Mr. Potti had yet backfired connected those down it. “Our restitution successful organising the Global Ayyappa Sangamam lies successful the information that it helped exposure the golden theft. Otherwise, figures similar Govardhan and Potti mightiness inactive person been holding sway successful Sabarimala,” helium said.