Trivandrum, November 17: Travancore Devaswom Board Minister Kadakampally Surendran on Saturday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and RSS for announcing indefinite strike by the right-wing activists from Sunday to protest against the arrest of Hindu leader K P Sasikala. "BJP is seeking political gains from Sabarimala," he said. While addressing a press conference here, Surendran said, "BJP and RSS are becoming an organization for troubling the people. The people of Kerala can clearly see that who is trying to defeat Sabarimala and politicize it. The BJP has been atrocious to the people by announcing a strike all of a sudden from Sunday."

He further said, "They are all part of a conspiracy to turn Sabarimala into a war zone by gathering the people to create law and order problem. What is the point of camping there?" History of Sabarimala: Why Women Weren't Allowed Into The Lord Ayyappa Shrine.

Many people are stranded without drinking water as the members of the BJP and its affiliates have blocked the vehicles of Ayyappa devotees and others.

Speaking about the arrest of Sasikala, he said, "Sasikala has been spreading communal venom. That is her freedom. Police personnel repeatedly requested her to leave Marakkottam on Friday. But she had to be moved away from there, due to the intentions she had."