Launching the second phase of its agitation on the Sabarimala issue, Kerala BJP on Monday began an indefinite relay fast in front of the Secretariat here.

BJP State general secretary AN Radhakrishnan began the fast. Party workers from the 14 districts in the State will also participate.

BJP MP Saroj Pandey, who inaugurated the fast, said the CPI(M)-led LDF government was acting against the will of people.

“We will raise this issue in Parliament,” she said.

Describing the protest as a new beginning for the party in the State, Pandey said the state government will have to rethink on what they were doing on the Sabarimala issue.

“The road for discussion should always be open,” she said.

SC’s verdict

The right-wing outfits have been up in arms against the Kerala government’s decision to implement the September 28 Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala.

The opposition Congress-led UDF had said that they were with the believers on the matter.

A four-member BJP delegation comprising Members of Parliament — Saroj Pandey, Nalin Kumar Kateel, Pralhad Joshi and Vinod Sonkar — has been camping in the State for the past two days and spoke to Ayyappa devotees about their problems. Pandey alleged the Sabarimala issue had “worsened” due to its “mishandling” by the State government.

BJP State chief PS Sreedharan Pillai said the Communist government had arrested the saffron party leaders and workers in “false” cases. “It is jungle-justice that is happening here,” he alleged.

“It is not the CPI(M)’s constitution, but India’s Constitution that is supreme,” Pillai said.

The BJP leader also dismissed media reports which said the party had stopped the protests over the Sabarimala issue.

BJP MP Prahlad Joshi said the traditions at Sabarimala were being destroyed by the Communist government in Kerala.

“We will study the situation and give a report to BJP national president Amit Shah,” he said.

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