K Saraswathy said places of worship should be free of political agendas and remain sacred spaces dedicated to prayer and reflection.

She said the Batu Caves temple management committee should not have permitted such a political gathering.

Yesterday, MIC deputy president M Saravanan said the party will hold a special prayer gathering at Batu Caves for Najib instead of joining a planned rally on Monday after a police warning that the rally was illegal.

Saravanan said the party will proceed to assemble since many members have committed to volunteering for the gathering.

A rally is expected to be held at the Palace of Justice tomorrow as the Court of Appeal hears Najib’s application for a judicial review in his appeal to serve the remainder of his jail term under house arrest.