In temple politics down south, BJP, RSS see an opportunity Tension hangs in Sabarimala’s air as violence mars the day
FOOTHOLD With LS polls approaching, the saffron brigade will look to earn dividends
CHENNAI:WITH the Sabarimala protests reaching a peak, the focus has now shifted to the political impact of the movement as Lok Sabha elections are not far away.
The RSS-BJP combine sense an opportunity to ride on this tide and turn Sabarimala into an Ayodhya of the South to reap electoral dividends; meanwhile, the ruling CPI(M)-LED Left Democratic Front and the Opposition Congress are trying their best to deny the saffron brigade any political space.
As rallies and protests by groups opposing the entry of women of all ages into the temple gained ground, the BJP changed its position. This, despite the apparent difference of the local unit (which had first welcomed the Supreme Court verdict as one that paved the way for gender equality) with the stance of the party’s national leadership.
The saffron party’s job was, in part, made easier by the LDF government, which has no other option but to implement the court verdict. And though the BJP maintains it was not spearheading the agitations, its leaders were at the forefront, lending credence to the CPI(M)’S charge that the Sangh Parivaar instigated the protests to gain political mileage through communal polarisation.
“The BJP is only supporting the protests. The party is not involved in either organising or leading them,” says senior BJP leader Muraleedharan, while denying the charge that its intent is to reap electoral dividends in the Lok Sabha polls.
Squarely blaming the RSS and the BJP for the current situation, CPI(M) MP MB Rajesh says: “It is an ideological and political fight and were are carrying it forward. While the RSS-BJP brigade is instigating the protests, the Congress has betrayed its historical legacy by supporting them.” He is not convinced the BJP can convert this angst into votes.
The state government itself is partly to blame, according to activist and analyst Civic Chandran, a former Naxal leader. The Pinarayi Vijayan government failed to resolve the issue through dialogue, he adds. While, admitting that the government should implement the court verdict, he points out where similar verdicts like the one on Adivasi land have not been acted upon with same urgency.
In his view, the Sabarimala protests will certainly find an echo in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, with the BJP gaining more ground and possibly snatching one or two parliamentary seats. Interestingly, people from the other backward classes or OBCS have stayed away from the protests. And the Ezhava community leadership has come out openly against the protests as has tribal leader CK Janu.
The OBCS account for about 32% of the state’s population, the Ezhavas 22.6% and tribals 1.45%. As such, hopes of communal polarisation yielding any tangible gains remains to be seen.
Vijayaraghavan Cheliya, who has written on Sabaribala, says, “In the absence of continuity and genuine conversation, there is a lack of credibility which allows the ground to the saffron brigade to exploit the present situation.”
As for the Congress ambivalence, his rationale is that it is a tactic preventing the RSS-BJP from occupying the entire political space offered by the Sabarimala impasse. Further, he is dismissive of the BJP making a rich harvest out of this in the general elections, given the social dynamics of Kerala.
Meanwhile, the situation in Pampa and Nilakal has been brought under control. PAMBA(SABARIMALA):CLUTCHING her two children, a 45-year-old resident of Andhra Pradesh’s Kuppam reached Kerala’s Pamba Wednesday morning. Little did the woman, identified as Madhavi, know that a nightmarish experience awaited her at the base of the Sabariamala temple, where protesters had gathered to stop women of menstruating ages from entering the shrine in keeping with a centuries-old tradition.
She was heckled in Pamba, from where begins a 5km trek to the temple. She found herself surrounded by a group of angry men, who were protesting against a Supreme Court order that allowed the entry of women of all ages into the shrine in Pathnamthitta district.
Madhavi had to retreat, but she needed help from the police. “We don’t want her to be lynched,” said a policeman.
Another woman, Libi, who is from Kerala’s Alappuzha, said, “I tried to take a bus from Pathnamthitta in the morning. But I was forced to get out and later police escorted me to safety.”
Tension hung in the air and around the temple situated at the dense Periyar Tiger reserve in the Western Ghats. The shrine opened for a monthly ritual at 5pm Wednesday with chanting of hymns and fragrance of incense sticks after day-long protests by those opposing the entry of women aged between 10-50 years.
“I have been visiting the temple for 20 years, and I never witnessed such a situation. The peaceful temple town is looking like a fort. Though I am deeply hurt over diluting the temple customs, I will pray to my favourite deity, Lord Ayyappa, to avoid such a situation in future,” said a pilgrim from Karnataka’s Hubbali. He said his car was intercepted at least 10 times by angry protesters to ensure no woman was travelling with him.
Vadi Velu, another devotee from Tamil Nadu’s Trichi, said, “It seems the case was not handled properly. I hope the court won’t dictate tomorrow how we all should pray. Sorry to see such a condition in one of the most vibrant temples of the country.”
As the gates opened, hundreds of bare-chested devotees of Lord Ayyappa, the presiding deity who is considered celibate, marched towards the shrine.
Though older women and very young girls were seen in the crowd, none belonged to the menstruating ages.
I have been visiting the temple for 20 yrs, and I never witnessed such a situation. The peaceful town is looking like a fort A PILGRIM FROM KARNATAKA