Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala on Thursday alleged that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the RSS-BJP were deceiving the people on the issue of entry for women of all age groups to the Sabarimala temple.
Inaugurating a State-level evening dharna, organised by the United Democratic Front (UDF) demanding a probe into the liquor deal, and in protest against the duplicitous stand of the Centre and State government on the price hike of petrol and diesel, Mr. Chennithala said the LDF was showing undue haste in implementing the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala, instead of seeking the path of consensus. Instead, the government was trying to complicate matters. The BJP should have led its long march to Delhi demanding a Central ordinance on the issue, instead of heading towards the State capital.
CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Minister for Higher Education K.T. Jaleel had demanded entry of women into mosques in order to provoke believers. It was for the believers to decide and not for Mr. Balakrishnan or Mr. Jaleel. The Congress has always been on the side of believers, he said.
In the matter of corruption, the Centre and State governments were two sides of the same coin and were competing with each other. He said the UDF will pursue every possible option to initiate prosecution in the liquor deal.
UDF leaders participated in the evening dharnas organised in all the 140 Assembly constituencies. IUML leader P.K. Kunhalikutty participated in the dharna in Malappuram constituency, while K.M. Mani led it in Pala, former KPCC president in Thiruvananthapuram, Shibu Baby John in Chavara, Johnny Nellore in Idukki, C.P. John in Thiruvalla, P.J. Joseph in Thodupuzha and UDF convener Benny Behanan in Aluva. Mr. Behanan later said in a statement that MPs, MLAs and UDF leaders participated in various constituencies.
