Music, drama, speeches, folk performances, all of them weaved around one idea — the primacy of Constitutional values of equality, secularism, democracy — filled the air at the Central Stadium here on Tuesday. From morning, the venue witnessed the coming together of thousands of people from various walks of life, who all shared a concern about the attacks on Constitutional values and open challenges to Supreme Court verdicts.
Wearing purple colours, and holding purple balloons, under the banner of ‘We the people,’ they repeated the words from the Preamble of the Constitution, read out by city Corporation Mayor V.K. Prashant.
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N. Ram, Chairman, THG Publishing Private Limited, The Hindu Group’s publishing company, said that movements like this were not just for Kerala, but all of India, at a time when there were attempts to tamper with the Constitution.
“Unlike the Constitution of some neighbouring countries, we have a secular Constitution which prohibits any kind of discrimination or anything that denigrates the dignity of individuals. It represents the most liberating aspects of our freedom struggle. We can’t allow this to be converted into a theocratic Constitution where one religion is privileged,” he said.
Mr. Ram said that the Supreme Court’s verdict on Sabarimala was a strong affirmation of Constitutional values.
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“It is obnoxious that women of a certain age have to be barred from the temple. I congratulate the Government of Kerala, particularly Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, for being clear about implementing the verdict, without being excessive or provoking anybody and placing it in the historical context. Millions of people in Kerala, who are considered a silent majority, must assert themselves, and not give in to those anti-social elements who attack women journalists and devotees,” he said.
Activist Shabnam Hashmi said that no religion could provide as much equality to women as the Indian Constitution could.
‘Danger sign’
“When a leader of the main political party says that the Supreme Court should pronounce only those judgments which can be implemented, it is a danger sign. That means that the Supreme Court is being threatened by the criminals who are unfortunately ruling the country. These forces who are attacking our Constitution and all pillars of our democracy have to be defeated,” she said.
‘Lead to anarchy’
Adivasi leader C.K. Janu said that the anti-women protests at Sabarimala were an insult to a State like Kerala.
“Why are you opposing the Supreme Court when it says that women in Kerala should have equality in all spaces? The judiciary is the last resort for those who have lost all hope. Now, it is under attack. Attempting to challenge a Constitutional verdict on the streets will lead to anarchy. We are destroying ourselves when we are challenging and destroying our Constitution,” she said.
Seeks support
Malayaraya Mahasabha leader P.K. Sajeev said that such strong movements for the Constitution should happen in all districts.
He said that the Malayaraya community needed the support of the larger public to win the rights of Sabarimala that had been taken away from them.
‘Move to divide govt’
Kerala Pulaya Mahasabha leader Punnala Sreekumar said that the protesters at Sabarimala had been trying to divide even the various arms of the government along caste and religious lines. The public should come out in large numbers to stand with the Constitutional values at such a time.
Members of the Malayaraya community performed ‘Aivar kali’, a folk artform. A play, Pets of anarchy, on life in a fascistic society, was staged.
Ministers including T.M. Thomas Isaac and V.S. Sunil Kumar visited the venue in the evening. Large number of young and old kept turning up at the venue through the day. A candlelight vigil was held at night, in which the pledge to stand by the Constitutional values was renewed.