Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that the government does not intend to file a review petition on the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages entry into the Sabarimala hill shrine.
“We are a law-abiding government, and will go by the verdict which we are duty-bound to execute,” the Chief Minister told newspersons after a cabinet meeting.
Earns CM’s wrath
The Chief Minister used the occasion to tick-off A Padmakumar, President of the Devaswom Board (the temple administration), who had gone public airing a contrary view.
Padmakumar earned the wrath of the Chief Minister after he told newspersons here on Sunday, that the Devaswom Board was exploring the possibility of moving a review petition.
“It is his individual opinion only. The government has nothing to do with it,” the Chief Minister clarified. Later, on Wednesday afternoon, the Devaswom Board has announced that it would align with the government’s viewpoint. According to the Chief Minister, the government will take steps to ensure adequate facilities for women pilgrims at the base camp at Nilackal as well as at the hill shrine.
Devotees protest
Meanwhile on Tuesday, thousands of Lord Ayyappa devotees, mainly women, took to the streets in Pandalam in Pathanamthitta district to demonstrate against the Apex Court’s decision. It was at the royal palace here that Lord Ayyappa, the presiding deity at Sabarimala, is believed to have spent his childhood.
The erstwhile royal family, which is intrinsically linked with traditions and rituals observed at the temple, and Pravin Togadia’s Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad, had together called the march where devotees would recite Ayyappa chants.
Meanwhile, the Sabarimala issue has acquired political connotations with the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led State government, the Opposition Congress, and the BJP coming out in the open with their respective stands.
The Congress party has gone on record saying that the state unit is ‘free to express opinion in the matter’. This prompted the State leadership to demand that traditions be honoured at Sabarimala.
Political views
PS Sreedharan Pillai, President of the state unit of the BJP said that the party and its organisations would launch public protests against the State government’s stand.
He accused it of using the Supreme Court order as a cover to trample over the religious faith and beliefs of devotees. He demanded that the government bring out an ordinance to protect them.
Interestingly, State RSS chief P Gopalan Kutty Master had merely said that implementation of the court directive should not lead to ‘division in the Hindu society.’
“We respect the verdict, but people should not feel that a reform is being foisted upon them, ”he said.
“It should be implemented only in due course,” said the RSS chief.