Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the state Assembly that the police have sought RSS leader Valsan Thillankery’s help to avoid clashes at Sabarimala. He also said that Thillankery was asked to calm down the protesters. The chief minister was answering a question on the Sabarimala issue during the Assembly session on Wednesday.

"Only BJP can calm down Kerala on the Sabarimala issue and that will be done by our workers. I am glad to hear that Pinarayi Vijayan has praised us for that," said BJP activist Amaljith Ashok.

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Earlier, a video showing Thillankery controlling Sabarimala devotees at Sannidhanam had gone viral just when Vijayan said that the complete control of the famous temple is in the hands of the Kerala Police.

In the video, Thillankery is seen using the state police’s public address system to try to control the devotees. A police officer can be seen standing with a megaphone. This has also resulted in a backlash.

The Supreme Court verdict on September 28 allowing the entry of women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple had made the famous shrine a battlefield. 

When he was asked whether the government has made anyone else in-charge of the security at the temple, Vijayan had said the police alone were responsible for security at Sabarimala.

“Several actions were taken in an emergency situation so that the devotees will not be disrupted. The police always had complete control at Sabarimala,” clarified the chief minister.