Law Minister A.K. Balan has said that sporadic protests following the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala will not affect the government or influence its decision to implement the judgment.
“The government has a constitutional mandate to implement the apex court judgment allowing women of all age groups to worship at the Sabarimala temple,” he told reporters here on Wednesday. “The verdict was delivered after 10 days of hearing. The petitioners were represented by over 130 eminent lawyers, while the government had only three counsels,” he said.
Mr. Balan said the government had pleaded for protecting the fundamental rights of citizens without affecting traditions or customs. “The court eventually rejected our proposal to constitute a commission of scholars and eminent persons to study the issue of entry of women into the temple and come up with recommendations.”
He said the government could not file a review petition against the judgment as it would go against its affidavit stating that it would implement the verdict. He added that the government had invited the representatives of the tantri family and Pandalam palace for talks to find an amicable solution to the issue. “It was a move in good faith,” he said.
Accusing the Congress and BJP of stirring up trouble for political ends, he said they could not hope to topple the government by inciting protests on the issue. “The devotees themselves will see through the game and the din will eventually die down,” he said.
Mr. Balan said the protests on the Sabarimala issue would dent the image of the Congress and affect its democratic foundations while leaving the government unscathed.
