Pathanamthitta: The state minister in charge of temples says the Sabarimala tantri or chief priest can be sacked if necessary. “It's the Travancore Dewasom Board (TDB) which appointed the tantri. He can be removed if the board decides so,” said Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran.

The minister asserted that action will be taken after the TDB submits its report on the tantri's act of closing the temple to conduct a 'purification' ceremony after two young women entered there.

“The RSS used the tantri as a tool,” Surendran alleged.

The minister's statement comes after the TDB had decided to seek an explanation from the tantri for the closure. TDB president A. Padmakumar had set a 15-day deadline for the tantri to respond.

The tantri, Kandararu Rajeevaru, closed the temple as soon as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed that two women of child-bearing age had worshipped at the temple of eternally celibate deity Lord Ayyappa. The tantri had called Padmakumar, but only to tell him that he has decided on a purification ritual on his own.

The TDB reached the conclusion that the tantri's act violated the Supreme Court order, and hence decided to seek explanation from him.

The board had reviewed a report filed by Devaswom Commissioner N Vasu.

Works Minister G Sudhakaran had wondered whether the tantri who conducted a purification ritual because the women entered the temple is a human being after all. “The tantri is not a Brahmin, he is a Brahmin monster,” he said Saturday, and asked what authority the tantri has to warn that the temple would have to be closed.

The entry of two women into the hill shrine on Wednesday, the first time since the Supreme Court in September last year lifted the age-linked ban on the entry of women devotees, has triggered massive protests in Kerala.

Kerala has been rocked by violent protests by BJP-RSS and right wing outfits after after the entry of two women, Kanakadurga, 44, and Bindu, 42.