Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan has backed down on his strong opposition to the agitation launched by the BJP-RSS and the Congress against the Supreme Court verdict permitting women of all ages to offer worship at Sabarimala.
The SNDP Yogam, Mr. Natesan told reporters here on Thursday, would not oppose it members of the Ezhava community joining the ongoing protest marches. “The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has invited the wrath of the people on the Sabarimala issue. The SNDP Yogam would stand with the devotees on the Sabarimala issue,” he said.
Mr. Natesan, who was briefing the media after a meeting of the Yogam council, said, “The State government implemented the demands of upper class communities and ignored the backward class. The government deserves these protests. The Union and State governments should enact a law to overcome the Supreme Court verdict allowing the entry of woman of all age groups to the Sabarimala temple,” he said.
Mr. Natesan claimed that the council meeting had approved his stance on the Sabarimala issue. “The Supreme Court verdict is disappointing and has polarised society. However, the court verdict is irrelevant as women devotees between the age of 10 and 50 will not go to Sabarimala. The ongoing protests exploiting the beliefs of devotees will only help to create violence. The present agitation is leaderless and the SNDP Yogam will not join forces with it. The protesters should have discussed the matter with all Hindu organisations before they hit the streets,’’ Mr. Natesan added.
On Tuesday, Mr. Natesan had come out in full support of the State government and said that the ongoing protest was an attempt to bring down the LDF government in the State.
