06-24-2007, 06:08 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Sabarimala priest's grandson arrested</b>
Thiruvananthapuram, June 23: The grandson of Sabarimala temple's head priest was arrested Saturday when he went to the state secretariat to conduct a ritual as part of his protest against Kerala Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran.
Rahul Easwar, who was released on bail later, reached the secretariat building with two other priests.
Easwar, grandson of chief priest Kandararu Maheswararu, had announced that he would conduct the prayer for the betterment of Sudhakaran, who he alleged was making outrageous comments against Brahmins and priests.
The Sabarimala temple is the most prominent Hindu shrine in Kerala.
Though no one backed Eashwar's puja plans, a large number of Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena supporters were present.
<b>Sudhakaran has been credited with initiating a debate over granting entry to non-Hindus in Kerala temples. He has said that a law would be unveiled soon to change the traditional temple entry rules</b>. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thiruvananthapuram, June 23: The grandson of Sabarimala temple's head priest was arrested Saturday when he went to the state secretariat to conduct a ritual as part of his protest against Kerala Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran.
Rahul Easwar, who was released on bail later, reached the secretariat building with two other priests.
Easwar, grandson of chief priest Kandararu Maheswararu, had announced that he would conduct the prayer for the betterment of Sudhakaran, who he alleged was making outrageous comments against Brahmins and priests.
The Sabarimala temple is the most prominent Hindu shrine in Kerala.
Though no one backed Eashwar's puja plans, a large number of Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena supporters were present.
<b>Sudhakaran has been credited with initiating a debate over granting entry to non-Hindus in Kerala temples. He has said that a law would be unveiled soon to change the traditional temple entry rules</b>. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->