Untouchability row: Minister misunderstood ritual, no discrimination shown against anyone, says priests association

The alleged untouchability incident against Kerala Devaswom minister K Radhakrishnan was a 'misunderstanding' of the rituals and no individual is discriminated against in temples, an organisation of traditional high priests in the state said on Wednesday.

The state committee of the Akhila Kerala Thanthri Samajam said priests who are performing 'deva pujas' do not touch anyone, be it Brahmin or non-Brahmin, till the same gets over.

It wondered if there was any ''ill intention'' in stoking a controversy out of an issue that it claimed ''technically ended eight months ago'' and alleged ''an innocent act'' was being used to create communal polarisation.

The Samajam is an association of traditional high priests who are authority on the rites and rituals practiced in most of Kerala's shrines.

In the incident in question, the 'melshanti' (chief priest) -- who was performing a puja -- was asked at the last moment to come and light the lamp as the temple thanthri (traditional high priest) was absent.

After lighting the lamp, he went back to complete the puja and the same was misunderstood as untouchability by the minister and he expressed his displeasure on the spot, the priests' body said in a Facebook post.

The organisation said that in Kerala, cleanliness observed in temples was purely spiritual and claimed it was not caste-based discrimination.

A serious case has been lodged against the two priests, who were working in a temple under the Malabar Devaswom Board, merely on the basis of their caste, it said.

It further claimed that ignoring the reality, some people were insulting the temple's melshanti and his community based on the minister's statement.

''Such people are trying to misinterpret an innocent act and create communal tension in the society. This can only be considered as a move for creating communal polarisation by claiming the presence of untouchability in Kerala,'' it contended in the post.

The priests urged devotees not to get involved in such ''malicious'' controversies aimed at disrupting the communal harmony in the society.

Speaking along similar lines, one of the two priests involved in the incident said there was no caste discrimination and the minister came for the event when they were conducting pujas in the temple.

Once the temple doors are opened for devotees, there are pujas and rituals to be performed and that is why the co-priest kept the small lamp on the ground and hurriedly left, he said.

He also claimed that everything was done in accordance with the usual religious practices and customs.

Meanwhile, responding to the claims of the Akhila Kerala Thanthri Samajam, Radhakrishnan, during the day, questioned why the priest came out in the middle of the pujas he was performing.

''If what they (organisation) say is true, why did he come out in the middle of the puja in the first place? Was it right for him to do so (when so many people were around)?'' the minister asked.

On Tuesday evening, the CPI(M) state secretariat had condemned the incident and said it was 'shameful' for Kerala.

The Left party said that at one time caste-based oppression, including untouchability was prevalent in the state, but it disappeared over time due to the Renaissance, nationalist and communist movements.

It also said social inequities that arose due to historical reasons are still prevalent and the government was working to find a solution for them.

The CPI(M) urged people to be vigilant against such practices and eradicate them.

Radhakrishnan, who hails from the Scheduled Caste community, had on Monday said two priests of a temple refused to hand over the small lamp they had brought to light the main lamp placed at the venue for marking the inauguration at the shrine.

Instead, they themselves lit the main lamp, and after that placed the small lamp on the ground, thinking that he would take it, he had alleged.

Though the minister didn't reveal the name of the shrine, news channels aired the visuals of the recent inauguration of ''nadapandal'' at a temple in Payyanur in Kannur district, in which the minister participated.

It could be seen in the visuals that the priests were not handing over the small lamp to the minister and placing it on the ground.

Radhakrishnan had later said caste system was a ''stain'' in the minds of certain people and it was not easy to remove it instantly.

He had also indicated he was not going to pursue any legal action against the discrimination he faced.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had condemned the alleged caste discrimination faced by his cabinet colleague and said follow-up action on the matter will be taken after discussing it with him.

Leader of Opposition in the Kerala assembly V D Satheesan too had sought stringent action against the priests who allegedly discriminated against the minister.

Radhakrishnan, a member of the central committee of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist), is the Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes and Devaswoms.

He represents Chelakkara constituency of Thrissur district.