Weighing in on the row over the global summit for Sabarimala devotees, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) on Wednesday accused Kerala’s CPI(M) government of convening the event “for political gains”.
Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan, while stating that the UDF would not boycott the Global Ayyappa Sangamam, criticised the ruling CPI(M), over its sudden devotion for Lord Ayyappa.
“It (the event) is meant for political gains and shows the CPI(M)’s political hypocrisy. Will the (Pinarayi) Vijayan government withdraw its affidavit filed in the Supreme Court that said it favoured the entry of young women into the (Sabarimala) temple? We are not boycotting the event. Let the government first answer our questions and only then approach us with an invitation,” he was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
His remarks pointed to the affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court by the CPI(M)-led government along with the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), endorsing the entry of women of all ages into Sabarimala.
This position, covering even those of menstruating age who were previously excluded, was viewed as a reaffirmation of the party’s progressive and gender-equality agenda.
In 2018, Supreme Court had allowed entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala. A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in a 4:1 verdict, said banning entry of women to Kerala's Sabrimala temple is gender discrimination and the practice violates the rights of Hindu women.
The Sangamam continues to draw mixed reactions, with the government insisting it is a devotional gathering while opposition leaders question its intent and timing.
“This devotion comes only just before elections. It was never seen when they ruled for ten years. Their background is to break traditions by using the police. They filed cases against people who protested peacefully. In the last decade, they did nothing for Sabarimala’s development,” Satheesan said in an attack at the CPI(M).
Satheesan claimed that during the UDF government’s tenure, 110 acres of forest land had been sanctioned for Sabarimala’s development, and an equivalent area had been acquired and handed over to the Forest Department.
“The CPI(M) has now brought out a master plan for Sabarimala only because elections are near. Ayyappa devotees will realise their false devotion,” he said, as per PTI.
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