RBI query on temples' gold stocks sparks protest in Kerala

Some right-wing Hindu outfits in Kerala have come out in the open against the Reserve Bank, which had written letters to some of the leading Hindu temples in the state last month seeking to collect data on the gold or bullion reserves with them.

Kerala is not only home to some of the richest temples in the country but they are also sitting on hundreds of tonnes bullion, with the Sree Padmanabha Swami temple in the state capital leading the chart.

While confirming that they have received such a letter from the RBI, top officials of some of the major temples said they are not taking any hasty decision on the matter without consulting the government and authorities concerned.

According to sources, two temples which received the RBI letter include the famous Sree Krishna temple at Guruvayur and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) that manages most temples in southern Kerala like the famous Sabarimala temple of Lord Ayyappa visited by millions from across the world.

When contacted in Mumbai, the RBI spokesperson Alpana Killawala admitted that they have written to these temples but clarified that "the objective of the letter is to collect data and mentioned in the RBI statement issued on September 1, there is no proposal under its consideration (to buy gold and bullion from temples)."

Last year the Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple in the state capital shot into fame after it was discovered that the temple is home to gold jewellery worth trillions of rupees. At the then prevailing price it was said the haul was worth over Rs 1.3 trillion.

"This is for the first time that we are getting such a notice from the RBI. We have not decided how to respond to it as the temple managing committee is yet to be reconstituted by the government," a senior official of the Guruvayur Devaswom told PTI, requesting anonymity.