CPI(M) seeks to foil Cong. Sabari ploy

As the Oppn. party harps on the theme

Patient wait: Devotees standing in queue at Sabarimala temple on Wednesday. Photo: Special arrangement

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] on Thursday appeared to throw water on Congress’s efforts to politically revive the highly emotive Sabarimala issue to rally majority community votes

CPI(M) State secretary A. Vijayaraghavan said the government awaited the Supreme Court’s decision. It would implement the verdict in consultation with “everybody,” he said. When pressed whether the CPI(M) had stubbornness in implementing the SC verdict in toto as in 2018 by implementing the judgment to allow women of all ages to worship at the Ayyappa temple, Mr. Vijayaraghavan said: “The current reality would come into play when addressing such matters.”

He said the Congress had pulled the wool over Ayyappa devotees’ eyes by promising a law to protect temple traditions if they came to power.

“The case is under Supreme Court review. No government can legislate on the matter now,” he said.

In Kannur, Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala dared the government to file a fresh affidavit seeking to reinstate the custom of allowing only women below the age of 10 and above the age of 50 to worship at the Ayyappa temple.

Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Monday wrote to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to file a review petition against the Supreme Court order.

The Congress had viewed the CPI(M) attack on the secular credentials of the IUML as a tactical gambit to attract Hindu votes. Hence, it purportedly raised the Sabarimala issue.

Mr. Chennithala said that the United Democratic Front (UDF) will bring in legislation after the Supreme Court had paved the way for entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala two years ago. All these months, the CPI(M) had been playing hide-and-seek on the issue and was now keeping mum on the verdict, Mr. Chennithala said at a news conference in Kozhikode on Thursday.

Fresh affidavit?

The affidavit of the LDF government favouring entry of women belonging to all age groups had led to the situation, he said.

“Has the CPI(M) changed its stance? Will it file a fresh affidavit,” he asked.