The controversy over the purification at Guruvayur temple hotted up further with the Nair Service Society coming out strongly against state Devaswom Minister G Sudhakaran's threat to prosecute the temple tantri.

Adding a political dimension to the issue, CPI-M's youth outfit DYFI said it would launch an agitation demanding "timely reform" in temple customs and practices." To begin with, DYFI would organise a "satyagraha" at Guruvayur soon, DYFI state president M B Rajesh said in Thrissur.

Union Minister Vayalar Ravi's son Ravikrishna said his complaint against the "embarrassment" suffered by his family was already there for the authorities to act upon.

Blasting Sudhakaran for his stand on the issue, NSS general secretary P K Narayana Panicker said the organisation would stiffly oppose any move by the government to interfere in temple customs and practices.

"The minister has no right to say that the tantri would be prosecuted. If the Government sought to intervene in the temple affairs, the NSS would explore all possibilities, including legal option against it," Panicker said at Cherthala.

Reacting to Sudhakaran's offer to consider "action" against the tantri if Vayalar Ravi or his son lodged a formal complaint, the Union Minister's son Ravikrishna told PTI that his letter urging to look into the issue was already there before the Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee

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