New Delhi sources stated that Congress leader Shashi Tharoor alleged that he and other local leaders were not allowed to enter the centuries old Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kerala. Reportedly Mr Tharoor, who is the lawmaker from the city, accused the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) of striking their names from the list of people allowed in the temple when the PM was there.
Mr. Tharoor told "He was with the prime minister for the unveiling of the plaque. As of all us were going to go inside the temple, the SPG (Special Protection Group) said that the PMO has cut some names off the list and the list no longer included the local MP, the MLA and the mayor, at which point we walked out. There is no point hanging around as decorative pieces where we are not welcome".
Mr. Tharoor said "We have been elected by the people. People have chosen us as their representatives, and this must be respected, just as we in turn respect the office of PM". Accordingly PM Modi had made a scathing attack on the ruling Left and opposition Congress over its handling of the Sabarimala temple issue after the Supreme Court ruling lifting the ban on entry of women of menstruating age.
