The Congress political affairs committee (PAC) on Friday expressed strong opposition to the various curbs being imposed on Sabarimala pilgrimage and criticised the State government for instituting a “police raj” in the sacred hills.
The PAC, while welcoming the Travancore Devaswom Board’s (TDB) decision to file a plea before the Supreme Court seeking more time to implement its women entry decision, preferred to wait and watch on how the government handled the Madalam and Makaravilakku festivals in the backdrop of the possibilities of women making their way to the temple.
Addressing a press conference here after the meeting, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Mullappally Ramachandran said the Congress party would continue its campaigns to spread its delineated stand on the Sabarimala issue compared to the ones adopted by the CPI(M) and the BJP.
In reply to a question on the party’s stand in the event of women entering the temple, Mr. Ramachandran said the Congress party was firm about its stand that it did not want to convert Sabarimala into a “war zone.”
“We don’t intend to indulge in violence to prevent women. We are optimistic that a true believer, who follows the custom and practices, will not venture to take the pilgrimage to the temple. Our intention is not to create tension, but carry out a series of campaign to convey the party’s message to the people,” he said.
The party will organise a protest demonstration in front of the head office of the TDB here on Saturday against its failure to complete the reconstruction work and install amenities for pilgrims coming from various parts of the country.
Mr. Ramachandran maintained that it was Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala who first put forward the suggestion of moving a plea seeking more time to implement the verdict. The Chief Minister was unfair in his derisive remarks against Mr. Chennithala, though he had to accede to the suggestion later.
“The decision on submitting the plea is the Congress party’s victory,” Mr. Ramachandran said.
