Sabarimala priests shun CM's offer to talk on SC order
Since Kerala implemented the Supreme Court's verdict allowing women of all ages entry to the Sabarimala temple, the government has had to face the wrath of devotees. Now, to add to its woes, the tantris or the supreme priests of the Sabarimala temple have backed out of proposed talks with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan scheduled for Monday. Here are the details.
The tantris wants a review petition in the SC
On Saturday, the scion of the Pandalam royal family and custodian of the Sabarimala temple, Sasikumar Verma, and Sabarimala head priest Rajeevaru Kandararu participated in a protest rally against the Supreme Court verdict in Kerala's Kottayam district. Meanwhile, tantri Mohanaru Kandarau said that the tantris would engage in talks with CM Pinarayi Vijayan only if the government filed a review petition in the SC.
Tantri says presence of women would destroy the temple's divinity
Kandarau further said that allowing the entry of women of all ages would destroy the ancient temple's divinity. Commenting on the Kerala police's plan to deploy 600 female police officers at the temple, Kandarau said that such deployment would ruin the Sabarimala temple's customs. The decision to boycott the meeting with CM Vijayan was taken after detailed consultation with the powerful Nair Service Society.
CM Vijayan had said no review petition would be filed
While the tantris want a review petition, CM Pinarayi Vijayan had categorically said after the SC judgement that the government would not file a review petition, and would do all that was required to implement the SC verdict. However, when the government did not file a review petition, devotees took to the streets to protest. The government is also under fire from political opponents.
BJP, Congress have sided with devotees, accused the Kerala government
With the Kerala government having implemented the Supreme Court order, the BJP has accused it of trying to subvert the beliefs of devotees. Not to be outdone, the Congress has also said that it would side with devotees. Meanwhile, the Pathanamthitta district where the Sabarimala temple is located is observing a shutdown on Sunday, called by the BJP's youth wing, the BJP Yuva Morcha.
