Kannur: Shah began his speech with 'Swamiya Saranam Ayyappa' mantra, which made the devotees and natives happy. He said in the speech that the LDF government led by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan would have to pay a "heavy price" if the suppression of the disturbance continues in Sabarimala.

BJP national president Amit Shah reached Kannur, Kerala. Amit Shah is the first ambassador of the Kannur international airport. Amit Shah came out of the airport after a 10-minute meeting with the BJP leaders. BJP workers and Kannur natives gave Amit Shah a grand welcome at the airport. Amit Shah lit the lamp and opened BJP’s new district office in Kannur. 

ALSO READ: Pinarayi Vijayan, who ignored flood-affected areas of Kerala, visits Swami Sandeepanandagiri's Ashram, raises eyebrows

After inaugurating the district BJP office, Shah addressed party workers and said that the state government was using police force to challenge the protest by devotees. He also said more than 2,000 activists and workers from BJP, RSS and other religious organisations have been arrested. BJP condemns these attacks and stands like a rock with devotees, Shah said.

Amit Shah said, "Many temples in India allow women and not men. No man attempts to enter those shrines."

"If Amit Shah could have come some days earlier then many problems could have been solved faster," said J Radhakrishnan a Kannur native.

ALSO READ: Amit Shah: BJP stands by Sabarimala devotees, condemns the arrest of 2,800 protesters

"We don't have any hope on Pinarayi Vijayan. We feel he won't do anything for Ayyappa devotees in Kannur or other districts in Kerala. Our hope now is on Amit Shah for a positive result in the Supreme Court," said Sharadha Krishnan, an Ayyappa devotee.

Amit Shah said that the LDF government will pay heavily if the suppression of agitation continues in Sabarimala, for Vijayana effort is akin to "playing with fire".

Shah added that even women in the state were displeased with Vijayan's decision of implementing the Supreme Court verdict and "gambling with Hindu faith".

By conspiring against temples, Amit Shah said that the LDF government has created and emergency-like situation in Sabarimala. Shah said that these protests of the Ayyappa devotees are "aastha ke liye sangharsh (struggle to save tradition)".