Human chains to stop forces of darkness led by RSS: Karat
New Delhi, Dec. 9: CPI( M) leader Brinda Karat has alleged that the RSS is leading the “forces of darkness” and it is now the fight of ideas with them in Kerala as the right- wing organisation is piggybacking the Sabarimala issue to gain entry to the state.
In an exclusive interview, Ms Karat, her party’s lone woman politburo member, claimed the entry of women of all ages into the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala is not about religion but politics for the BJP.
Her allegations against the RSS- BJP came as Kerala witnessed massive protests by devotees opposing the entry of women of menstrual age into the hill shrine after the LDF government decided to implement the September 28 Supreme Court order to that effect.
The BJP has said it stands with the devotees who hold the Sabarimala tradition close to their hearts — and will not let the LDF “crush people’s faith with impunity”.
The court is set to hear on January 22 petitions seeking a review of its verdict.
Ms Karat said one million women in Kerala will march against the BJP and the RSS on January 1 to halt their foray into Kerala by piggybacking on the Sabarimala issue.
Women will form human chains across Kerala to stand up for social reforms, she said.
“It is to stop the forces of darkness led by RSS and to take forward the values of social reforms. This is the big battle of ideas happening in Kerala and not just on the Sabarimala issue,” Ms Karat, 71, asserted.
Bi- polar polity dominates Kerala, where the Left Democratic Front and the Congress- headed United Democratic Front remain the big players.
The BJP, a relatively new entrant into the state’s politics, has extended support to the devotees opposed to the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine whose deity, Lord Ayyappa, is celibate.
The temple opened for the two- month- long pilgrim season on November 16. But prohibitory orders had been imposed in and around Sabarimala by police following the protests and fear of violence after the apex court order. The BJP has demanded that the prohibitory orders be lifted.
This is the big battle of ideas happening in Kerala and not just on the Sabarimala issue. — BRINDA KARAT,
CPI( M) leader