Sabarimala: Congress, RSS 'hardening' stance on SC verdict

Barely a week after the Supreme Court ruled that women of all age groups should be allowed entry into the revered shrine of Sabarimala in Kerala, major political and social organisations in the state appear to be shifting their stance after initially welcoming the verdict.

The developments come after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday declared that his government respected the Supreme Court verdict and had no intention of filing a review petition.

The Congress is planning to hold a meeting of former Devasom Board members and party leaders in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday to discuss the issue. Kerala Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday claimed the previous UDF dispensation, which was headed by his party, had “supported” the views of devotees on Sabarimala. Chennithala told reporters, “Women were not banned in Sabarimala; only a particular age group was not allowed. This custom was being followed for more than 5,000 years.”

A poster on the fast being planned by the Congress against the Sabarimala verdict | Via social media

The Congress is organising a day-long fast at Pathanamthitta district on Friday against the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala. Chennithala is expected to inaugurate the event, which will be held from 10am to 5pm.

According to reports, the Congress will decide on filing a review petition over the Sabarimala verdict in the Supreme Court after Thursday's meeting at Thiruvananthapuram. There is also speculation the Congress may urge the Narendra Modi government to pass a new law on Sabarimala, effectively 'overruling' the Supreme Court verdict.

The Muslim League, a major ally of the Congress, has also called for “respecting” the sentiments of devotees of Sabarimala and requested the Congress to file a review petition in the Supreme Court. Independent MLA P.C. George had declared earlier this week that he wouldn't allow entry in his constituency to women intending to go to Sabarimala.

Meanwhile, the RSS on Wednesday declared that devotees' sentiments cannot be ignored with respect to the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala. A statement by RSS general secretary Suresh Bhayyaji Joshi called on “all stakeholders to come together and address the issue availing judicial options also”, while noting that the Supreme Court's judgement should be “honoured”.

Joshi's statement notes, “It is an issue of a local temple tradition and faith to which sentiments of millions of devotees, including women, are attached. These sentiments of the devotees cannot be ignored while considering the judgement.”

The RSS criticised the Vijayan government for deciding to implement the Sabarimala verdict with immediate effect as it did not take into consideration devotees' sentiments.

Not surprisingly, the Congress and the BJP have been panned for the shift in stance on Sabarimala as both outfits had initially welcomed the Supreme Court verdict. Twitter users posted screenshots of the Congress's tweet welcoming the Sabarimala verdict.

(With agency inputs)