Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi on Sunday described as "not correct" the purification ceremony performed in the famous Lord Krishna temple at Guruvayur after a visit by his son, but said he was not for a confrontation on the issue.
"If they say that my son should not enter Guruvayur temple, it is not correct. It is not a good approach. Let the people say," Ravi, whose wife is a Christian, told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Kochi.
"Who has the right to ban the entry of my son to the temple?" he asked.
The purification ceremony or punyaham (sprinkling of consecrated water) was performed on Saturday in the wake of the choroonu (first feeding ceremony) for Ravi's grandson being held in the shrine on Friday.
Asked whether he will take up the issue, Ravi said: "No. I have not decided to take up the issue. Let my son take the decision. I am not going for a confrontation."
Pointing out that a similar ritual was performed a few years ago when he visited the temple with his wife, Ravi said: "At that time I was angry and even wanted to go to court. But some mediators told me not to go to court."
To a question whether he preferred a public debate on the issue, Ravi said, "That is not for me to say. People will have to say."
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