The tension that prevails in Sabarimala over the entry of women of all age groups appears to have promoted the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Congress to redraw their respective strategy and intensify its campaign for the protection of rituals and customs of the hill shrine and the rights of devotees.
The new strategy is being redrawn on the strength of the Congress high command’s approval of the UDF’s and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee’s (KPCC) proclaimed position on the issue. The UDF has convened urgent meeting of its district office-bearers on Saturday, while the KPCC has convened its political affairs committee on Sunday, prompted by the developments in Sabarimala during the last two days.
The campaign will mainly focus on failure of the State government and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to protect the customs and rituals in temples and protect the faith of the devotees. In another development, the UDF and Congress said that the only recourse before the State government to douse the ire of devotees is to file a review petition drawing on the contentions of Justice Indu Malhotra, who delivered a dissenting judgment on the issue.
Addressing a press conference here, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that Justice Malhotra had upheld the contentions of the affidavit filed by his government in 2015 highlighting the fundamental rights of various religious sects under Article 25 and 26 of the Constitution. The dissenting judge had pointed out these constitutional provisions in her judgment. Unfortunately, the Pinarayi government amended this crucial argument and batted for individual freedom and gender equality under Article 14 and 15, setting for the majority judgment negating the benefit of Article 26 (B) for Ayyappa devotes.
The BJP, instead of creating a communal divide in the State, should put pressure on the Centre, where it is in power, to promulgate an ordinance using Item 28 under the Concurrent List of the Constiution.
Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala accused the State police of violating the essence of the Supreme Court verdict that spoke about ensuring smooth passage for devotees, the TDB and the government of cheating devotees and creating a tense situation in Sabarimala for narrow political gains. The LDF government was providing all encouragement for the BJP-Sangh Parivar to trigger off a communal divide, he said.
KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran warned against the government’s attempts to maim customs and traditions using the police. He wanted the State government to work towards bringing peace in the area. The Congress party would continue to pitch its support in favour of devotees, he said.
