[Fainnamoony]

Kerala Devaswom Board Minister G Sudhakaran has said that the Jayamala controversy could be a conspiracy of other states to defame the Sabarimala temple.

Each year about three crore people visit the temple and its annual earning is roughly Rs 70 crore.

"Sabarimala is a pilgrimage centre not only at the state or national level but also at the international level. Prestige of Sabarimala is growing and lakhs of pilgrims are thronging," said Sudhakaran.

"People's faith in Lord Ayyappa is growing and simultaneously large sums of money is flowing into Kerala. In order to denigrate this pilgrim centre there may be a conspiracy. And they would want worshippers to throng other places outside Kerala," he added.

Trouble began after actress Jayamala claimed that she entered the most sacred part of the temple and touched the idol of Lord Ayyappa in 1987.

Temple authorities are now planning legal action against the actress for committing sacrilege at the Sabarimala temple.

Jayamala claims temple authorities disclosed her confidential apology to a television channel, which sparked the controversy.


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