Sabarimala row: Protests against Supreme Court verdict continue in South
Members of the Opposition Congress and BJP in Kerala today staged demonstrations to express solidarity with Ayyappa devotees even as the CPI, the key partner in the CPI-M led LDF, said there was an attempt to "politicize" the Supreme Court order on Sabarimala. On September 28, a five-judge Constitution bench lifted the ban on the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine.
CPI says state government was bound to follow SC verdict
The BJP said its protest would expand to other South Indian states as well. CPI state secretary Kannam Rajendran said, "LDF wasn't against believers. The government was bound to implement the SC order." A group of Congress activists, including women, held a dharna in front of an office of the Travancore Devaswom Board, that manages the shrine with the slogan of 'Protect Sabarimala Temple'.
KPCC suggests law to restrict court from interfering in temple-traditions
Inaugurating the 'devotees gathering', KPCC Campaign Committee Chairman K Muraleedharan, MLA, said the state government should file a review petition against the Supreme Court verdict on the shrine. Taking a dig at the BJP, Muraleedharan said the matter could be resolved if the Center brings in a law to restrict the Court from interfering in temple customs and tradition.
BJP criticized state govt's decision to implement SC order
Meanwhile, the 'Sabarimala Protection' long-march led by BJP passed through the Kollam district. The march would culminate in Thiruvananthapuram on October 15. Speaking on the occasion, BJP President PS Sreedharan Pillai criticized the CPI-M led LDF government's decision to implement the top court order. He said the saffron party was with the believers and there would be no compromise on that.
Pandalam Royal family demands law to preserve customs of temple
A protest dharna was also held in front of the secretariat by members of Pandalam Royal family, associated with Lord Ayappa demanding a law to preserve customs and traditions of the shrine. Congress leaders VS Sivakumar, MLA, Pandalam Sudhakaran and Suresh Gopi, actor-turned-BJP Rajya Sabha member were among those who participated in the dharna, organized under the banner of 'Ayappa Dharma Samrakshana Samithi'.
Pandalam member asks why infringement on customs of Sabarimala alone
Speaking on the occasion, Pandalam Royal Family member Sasikumara Varma said customs and traditions of Lord Ayyappa Temple cannot be destroyed with a single court order. He also sought to know why there was an 'infringement' on the customs of the Sabarimala Temple alone. "Is it because the hill shrine has become famous?" the royal family member asked.
State govt not going for review of SC verdict
The sit-in dharna by activists of the 'Save Sabarimala Forum' and 'Adivasi Samrakshana Samithi' demanding steps to protect the tradition of the shrine continued for the fifth day at Nilackal in Pathanamthitta district. The Congress, BJP, and various Hindu outfits have launched protests. But the Left government has maintained that it would not go in for a review of the ruling of the SC.
