Kerala chief minister decries BJP and RSS over protests
SUPREME COURT TO HEAR ON NOVEMBER 13 PETITIONS AGAINST SABARIMALA VERDICT
India’s Supreme Court yesterday said it would hear on November 13 multiple petitions challenging the Sabarimala verdict, in which the court allowed entry for women of all age groups into the shrine.
The ruling remained unimplemented following weeklong protests in Kerala.
A day after the doors to the temple closed — six days after they were opened for the first time since the Supreme Court lifted the ban on entry for women of menstruating age — Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its fountainhead the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of a “hidden conspiracy” to destroy peace at the temple.
At least 12 women in the 1050 age group made a failed attempt to trek the hills and had to return following protests from believers.
Even women over the age of 50 were stopped at Sabarimala.
An apex court bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S.K. Kaul told lawyer Mathews J. Nedumpara that it has already passed an order with regard to listing of petitions on November 13.
“Sabarimala cases will be taken up on November 13 at 3pm. The order has been passed,” the CJI said when Mathews J. Nedumpara, representing the National Ayyappa Devotees Association again mentioned the plea against the verdict for urgent hearing.
Playing politics
A five-judge Constitution bench, in a 4-1 verdict last month, lifted the centuries-old ban on entry of girls and women in the menstruating age of 10-to 50 years into the hilltop shrine.
However, the petition filed by Shylaja Vijayan, president, National Ayyappa Devotees Association through Nedumpara, submitted that faith cannot be judged by scientific or rationale reasons or logic.
Hitting out at the BJP and the ■ RSS for the agitation at Sabarimala that stalled the entry of women in the hitherto banned 10-50 age group, Vijayan alleged there was a “hidden conspiracy” to destroy peace at the temple.
He alleged the agitations were a “planned and deliberate attempt” to create an atmosphere of tension in the state.
The CPM strongman also asserted that no force will be allowed to turn the shrine complex into a centre for troublemakers.
Talking to reporters, he alleged that the Sangh Parivar was attempting to “insult” and “mislead” devotees.
While maintaining that the beliefs of devotees would be respected, Vijayan made it clear that the government had the responsibility to implement the apex court order.
Vijayan said both the main opposition Congress and BJP were “playing politics” on the Sabarimala issue since they had earlier welcomed the court verdict. Some leaders of the Congress are joining hands with the RSS and it was a “dangerous trend,” he said.