Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday slammed various groups that resisted entry of women in the menstrual age bracket to the Sabarimala temple. Launching a scathing attack on the Sangh outfits, Vijayan did not mince words to blame them for 'attempting to turn Sabarimala into a conflict zone'. "The Kerala government made it clear in front of the Supreme Court that it will implement the verdict. The government arranged all facilities. Neither the government nor the police tried to block the devotees. The RSS tried to make the Sabarimala temple a war zone," said Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.
"There was a clear move to create trouble at Sabarimala. Journalists were targetted and attacked. Young women who reached Sabarimala were attacked and stones were hurled at their houses. As the law and order situation deteriorated, the police were forced to intervene and take charge of the devotees' security,” he said.
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The Kerala chief minister also dismissed claims that the police had failed to carry out its duty in Sabarimala and reiterated that the government was duty-bound to implement the Supreme Court order. "I don't think there was a law and order failure at Sabarimala temple... Sabarimala is a sacred land. Faithful are free to go to Sabarimala and it is the duty of the government to ensure a free passage to them.”
Condemning the attack on media, he said: "The protesters tried to check vehicles, attacked women devotees and media persons. It was the first time in the history of Kerala that this type of attitude was shown towards the media".
Sabarimala witnessed unprecedented scenes after the Lord Ayyappa temple opened for its five-day monthly pujas on October 17. It was the first time the temple was opened after a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court, by a 4:1 split verdict on September 28, held that women of all age groups should be allowed entry into the temple. Protesters, claiming to be Ayyappa devotees, were stationed en route to Sabarimala to prevent women of the 'barred' age group from entering the temple.
Several people, including journalists, were injured as police cracked down on the protesters who were up in arms against Left government for its decision to enforce the Supreme Court order. Meanwhile, the Pathanamthitta district authorities had to impose Section 144 at Ilavunkal, Nilakkal, Pamba and Sannidhanam as protests intensified.
(With inputs from Onmanorama)
