Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's former chief minister VS Achuthanandan has continued slamming the erstwhile Travancore royal family of the state, with his latest attack directed at the manner in which the royal family members name themselves.
The octogenarian opposition leader of the state has remarked that the royal family names that include Thirunal (holy day or star sign) were an attempt to evoke devotion in an indirect manner.
Achuthanandan said it was alright to name people based on star signs but he would not appreciate any attempt to build in respect by naming people in a certain manner.
State chief minister Oommen Chandy has, however, taken objection to the opposition leader's recent remarks, stating "he should have avoided such remarks, though I am not one to advise him".
The opposition leader's remarks over the past few days have evoked objections from other quarters, too, but some, like former finance minister TM Thomas Isaac, have come to his support. Isaac said it seemed some people were overly devoted to the monarchy and that communists had played a key role in ending feudal and royal establishments.
Achuthanandan said it was a surprise that there was continued adoration of former princes and princesses more than six decades after Independence. He said it was also surprising that many politicians and ministers were also in awe of the former royals.
Achuthanandan's remarks come in the backdrop of the former Travancore royal family being pitchforked into global limelight following the revealing of a mind-boggling quantity of jewels and ornaments in the cellars of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in the state capital. The temple is managed by a trust connected to the erstwhile royal family.
A committee appointed by the Supreme Court of India recently made an inventory of the treasures in the temple vaults, but the committee's brief did not include valuation of the jewels and ornaments. Media speculation is that the treasures many be worth Rs 1 trillion.
Achuthanandan had earlier stated that he would approach the Supreme Court to request an inquiry into whether any precious articles have been taken out of the temple cellars by members of the former royal family.
