Sabarimala: ‘Deliberate’ efforts to destroy Kerala’s unity, alleges CM
thiruvananthapuram — Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday flayed those agitating against his government’s move to implement the Supreme Court verdict on entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple, saying “deliberate” efforts were being made to destroy the state’s unity and secular fabric.
As protests against the verdict continued in the state with police chasing away BJP activists at Haripad in Alappuzha district, a plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking review of the judgement which lifted the ban on entry of women of all ages into the deity Ayyappa temple.
The petition filed by Shylaja Vijayan, president of National Ayyappa Devotees Association, said the September 28 judgment is “absolutely untenable and irrational”.
The issue has taken a political turn with main opposition Congress and BJP coming out against the LDF government’s move to implement the verdict, saying they are with the believers.
Stepping up its agitation, BJP on Monday said at Kochi that it would organise a five-day long ‘Save Sabarimala yatra’ from Pandalam to Thiruvananthapuram, a distance of about 100km, on October 10 to protest the government’s “hasty move” to implement the verdict.
Accusing the state government of trying to divide Hindus to ‘defeat’ the protests by devotees of deity Ayyappa, BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai, said the yatra would commence from Pandalam, where according to mythology, deity Ayyappa is believed to have spent his childhood.
Vijayan defended his government’s decision and said it was committed to protecting the religious beliefs and customs of different religions and places of worship and there was no question of succumbing to “politically motivated” efforts to create tension in the state.
“The people of Kerala faced the recent unprecedented floods unitedly but deliberate efforts are now being made to destroy that unity, to destroy the secular fabric,” he said.
Holding out an olive branch, Vijayan also made it clear that the government was prepared for talks with all concerned if they had any misunderstanding over the state’s stand on the issue.
Meanwhile, joining issue for the first time, Travancore Royal family member Ashwati Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi said it was “very painful” to hear about the recent developments relating to the Sabarimala temple.
“It is sad to note that centuriesold traditions are being violated,” she said in a statement here.
Reaffirming the government’s stand not to seek a review of the apex court verdict, Vijayan said the government in its earlier affidavit had made it clear that it would implement the court’s order. —