The Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday categorically stated that his government will not file any review petition in the Supreme Court against the apex court’s judgement to allow women of all age groups to enter the Sabarimala shrine.
The Kerala CM also said that he will abide by the Supreme Court’s decision and assured that his government will provide facilities to devotees who wish to visit Sabarimala.
According to the reports, Vijayan has said that his government has made all arrangements for the devotees to enter Sabarimala and worship Ayyappa. “The government will not file any review petition. The govt does not differentiate among men and women, and women have the same rights. We followed the High Court when they said women cannot enter. After that, the SC gave the women the right to enter, hence we are following the SC”, said Pinarayi Vijayan.
He further added that state govt will ensure safety and security of all devotees. “No one will be allowed to take law and order into their hands, to check cars or stop people. Govt will not allow any violence in the name of Sabarimala”.
The state unit of BJP has, however, slammed the Communist government and marched into the Kerala capital while reciting mantras of Lord Ayyappa. They demanded the Kerala government to file a review plea against the recent Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala. The BJP warned the state government to face consequences if the demands are not met and said that will hold Kerala CM responsible if anything goes wrong in the state.
Meanwhile, Travancore Dewasom Board (TDB), a body which manages the Lord Ayyappa shrine has invited various stakeholders for a meeting to discuss the issue, including preparations for the annual pilgrimage season, beginning next month. Earlier the Tanthris (priests)of the temple and the Pandalam Royal family had declined to meet the CM stating that the state government has already made its intentions clear.
Kerala has been gripped with severe tensions and protests amidst the battle between the Kerala government and the Hindu devotees, who accuses both state and the judiciary of interfering in their religious traditions and beliefs. The state has seen several protests, followed by massive ‘Naamjapa’ marches taken by lakhs of women on the streets of Kerala.
The Supreme Court in its recent judgement had ordered Sabarimala Shrine to open its doors to women of all ages, repealing the age-old tradition to not let women of a reproductive age of 10-50 enter the Sabarimala shrine.
